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THE  PLANTING 


OF 


THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


IN 


NORTHERN    VIRGINIA 

PRIOR  TO  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF 

Winchester  Presbytery, 

DECEMBER  4,  1794. 


JAMES  R.  GRAHAM,  D.  D., 

PASTOR  EMERITUS  OF  THE 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN   WINCHESTER,  VA. 


WINCHESTER,  VA.: 

THE  GEO.  F.  NORTON  PUBLISHING  CO. 

1904. 


TO  THE  MEMBERS  OF  WINCHESTER 
PRESBYTERY 

— in  harmonious  fellowship  with  whom  my  en- 
tire ministry  has  been  spent,  and  whose  unvary- 
ing kindness  has  cheered  the  labors  and  sweet- 
tened  the  trials  of  a  pastorate  extending  over  a 
period  of  more  than  half  a  century — this  volume 
is  affectionately  inscribed. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/plantingofpresOOgrah 


PREFACE. 


It  is  with  many  misgivings  that  this  little  volume  is  committed  to  the 
press.  Its  author  claims  no  special  importance  for  it.  It  does  not  pretend  to  be 
a  complete  and  connected  history  of  our  Church,  either  in  the  period  of 
which  it  treats,  or  in  the  territory  to  which  it  relates.  He  is  fully  aware  of 
its  fragmentary  and  imperfect  character,  and  of  the  very  limited  interest 
that  will  be  taken  in  its  pages.  His  excuse  for  offering  it  to  the  public, 
already  surfeited  with  books,  is  the  fact  that  its  publication  has  been  insist- 
ently urged  by  judicious  friends,  who  have  some  knowledge  of  its  charac- 
ter. It  is,  moreover,  his  own  conviction  that  such  facts  of  our  Presby- 
terial  history  as  he  has  here  tried  to  rescue  from  oblivion,  should  be  put  in 
a  form  most  likely  to  secure  their  preservation.  Though  others  have  ex- 
plored the  field  in  which  he  has  labored,  and  have  made  most  valuable 
contributions  to  the  early  history  of  our  Church,  he  is  persuaded  that  some 
particulars  are  here  given  that  will  be  new  to  most  of  his  readers,  and  that 
will  have  a  special  interest  for  the  people  of  The  Northern  Neck. 

Notwithstanding  the  care  taken  by  the  proofreader,  a  few  typograph- 
ical errors  have  somehow  escaped  his  watchful  eye.  Such  as  have  been 
discovered  are  noticed  in  the  "Errata"  at  the  close  of  the  volume. 


-£4-* 


INTRODUCTION. 


t^*  t£r*  t&* 

T  is  proposed,  in  this  unpretending  volume,  to  gather  up,  so  far 
as  we  have  been  able  to  obtain  them,  the  facts  relating  to  the 
Planting  of  Presbyterianism  in  the  territory  originally  covered  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Winchester,  down  to  the  time  of  the  or- 
ganization of  that  Presbytery.  This  proposal  excludes  the 
attempt  to  write  a  history  of  the  Presbytery  itself.  It  lim- 
its our  inquiries  strictly  to  the  period  which  precedes  our  Pres- 
byterial  existence.  If  this  limitation  should  prove  a  disap- 
pointment to  any  reader  of  this  book,  our  defence  is  that  the  materials  for 
our  history,  as  an  organized  body,  are  carefully  preserved  in  our  Presbyte- 
rial  Records  and  are  readily  accessible;  while  the  facts  relating  to  our  ante- 
Presbyterial  existence  are  to  be  sought  from  sources  more  difficult  of  access, 
many  of  which  have  already  passed,  and  others  are  rapidly  passing,  beyond 
our  reach. 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  purpose,  our  work  will  be  but  the  enlarge- 
ment, in  a  more  correct  form,  of  statements  presented  in  the  Historical  Ad- 
dress delivered  at  Shepherdstown,  W.  Va.,  September,  1894,  at  the  cele- 
bration of  onr  Presbyterial  Centennial. 

The  work  here  undertaken  is  not  an  easy  one.  To  write  the  early  his- 
tory of  our  churches  at  all  is  difficult;  to  write  it  with  absolute  complete- 
ness and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  reader,  is  impossible.  That  his- 
tory is  involved  in  the  greatest  obscurity.  The  most  diligent  and  pains- 
taking research  is  not  able  now  to  dispel  the  darkness  that  broods  over  it. 
It  must  be  remembered  that  Presbyterianism  here  is  older  than  our  Presby- 
tery, and  that  in  our  efforts  to  trace  its  earliest  introduction,  the  records  of 
Winchester  Presbytery  afford  us  no  help.  Our  inquiries  go  far  back  of  the 
organization  of  our  Presbytery,  and  the  material  for  this  history  must  be 
gathered  from  sources  not  easily  accessible,  and  not  very  satisfactory  in 
the  information  furnished  when  access  is  obtained. 

But  while  the  fact  is  to  be  deplored,  that  our  knowledge  of  the  early 
history  of  our  church  is  so  scant  and  imperfect,  it  is  gratifying  to  know 
that  neither  the  General  Assembly  nor  the  Presbytery  can  be  held  respon- 
sible for  the  absence  of  this  knowledge.  Two  years  after  the  Assembly 
was  organized  (viz:  in  1791),  it  enjoined  upon  the  Presbyteries,  then  17  in 


2  INTRODUCTION. 

number,  to  gather  up  and  forward  to  the  Assembly  all  the  material  that 
could  contribute  to  a  full  and  accurate  history  of  our  church  from  the  time 
of  its  first  introduction  into  this  country.  Successive  Assemblies,  through 
a  number  of  years,  repeated  this  injunction,  with  which  the  Presbyteries 
very  generally  complied;  and  in  1804  Dr.  Ashbel  Green  and  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Hazzard  were  appointed  a  committee  to  embody  the  facts  that  had 
been  collected  into  a  history  of  the  Church.  For  several  years  this 
committee  reported  progress  in  their  work;  but  the  difficulties,  which  from 
the  first  were  formidable,  were  found  at  length  to  be  so  great  that,  in  1813, 
the  committee  reported  the  work  to  be  impracticable,  and  at  their  own  re- 
quest were  discharged.  But  the  Assembly,  unwilling  to  abandon  the 
undertaking,  appointed  Rev.  Samuel  Miller  D.D.  to  receive  the  material  in 
hand,  and  complete  the  history.  In  1819  he,  too,  asked  to  be  relieved  and 
Dr.  Green  was  appointed  to  assist  him.  But  in  1825  these  gentlemen  re- 
ported their  inability  to  do  the  work  and  asked  to  be  relieved  from  their 
appointment.  While  their  request  was  granted,  so  important  did  the 
Assembly  deem  the  work  to  be,  that  another  and  larger  committee  was 
appointed  to  continue  and  complete  it.  This  committee  reported  from  time 
to  time;  but  at  the  Disruption  of  the  church  in  1838,  the  history  was  still 
unfinished,  and  from  that  period,  so  far  as  we  have  discovered,  the  matter 
disappears  from  the  minutes  of  the  General  Assembly. 

The  Presbytery  of  Winchester  displayed  equal  zeal  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  its  history.  One  of  the  first  things  it  did,  after  its  organization  in 
1794,  was  to  order  its  ministers  to  prepare  a  historical  account  of  the  origin 
and  growth  of  its  respective  churches,  and  when  these  several  accounts 
were  presented  to  Presbytery,  the  Rev.  Moses  Hoge  was  appointed  to  com- 
pile from  them  a  detailed  history  of  Presbyterianism  within  our  bounds, 
and  in  1804  the  manuscript  volume  he  had  prepared  was  forwarded  to  the 
General  Assembly. 

And  yet  when  the  present  writer,  many  years  ago,  enquired  of  the 
proper  authorities  concerning  Dr.  Hoge's  history,  he  was  told  that  no  defi- 
nite information  in  reference  to  it  could  be  given;  that  while  there  was  a 
mass  of  manuscripts  nominally  in  possession  of  the  General  Assembly,  in 
the  absence  of  any  provision  for  their  care,  they  had  been  deposited  in  the 
basement  of  some  building  in  Philadelphia.  Some  of  these  manuscripts, 
it  was  supposed,  had  already  perished,  and  if  Dr.  Hoge's  History  of  Win- 
chester Presbytery  still  existed,  it  would  be  impossible  to  find  it,  except  at 
the  expense  of  more  time  and  labor  than  anyone  could  afford  to  give. 

Since   that  time  ' '  The   Presbyterian  Historical  Society ' '    has   been 


INTRODUCTION.  3 

formed  and  is  engaged  in  a  most  commendable  effort  to  rescue  and  pre- 
serve all  papers  bearing  upon  the  history  of  the  church.  But  the  recent 
death  of  the  librarian,  while  collating  and  arranging  these  papers,  and  who 
alone  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  contents  of  his  shelves,  has  pre- 
vented us  from  learning  whether  the  history  in  question  is  still  in  existence 
or  not. 

But  our  own  Presbytery  gave  further  evidence  of  its  interest  in  the 
matter.  In  April,  1830,  it  appointed  Rev.  Drs.  Hill  and  Wilson  a  commit- 
tee to  collect  materials  and  prepare  a  history  of  the  rise  and  progress  of 
our  church  within  its  bounds.  Two  years  later  Rev.  Dr.  D.  H.  Riddle 
was  added  to  this  committee.  As  chairman,  the  burden  of  labor  fell  on 
Dr.  Hill,  and  he  engaged  in  the  work  with  great  enthusiasm.  Considerable 
progress  had  been  made  when  the  controversy,  which  disturbed  the  church 
at  that  period,  arose.  The  effect  of  this  was  to  change  materially  the  char- 
acter of  his  work.  He  decided  to  re-write  it  from  the  beginning,  and  to 
publish  it  in  "Parts  "  at  intervals.  "  Part  I  "  was  published  in  1839,  and 
is  the  only  portion  of  his  work  that  ever  appeared;  and,  unfortunately  for 
us,  this  part,  partaking  of  the  spirit  of  the  time,  is  more  controversial  than 
historical,  and  sheds  very  little  light  upon  the  matters  with  which  we  are 
concerned  here.  The  large  amount  of  material  he  had  collected,  and  which 
was  intended  for  publication  in  the  subsequent  ' '  Parts ' '  of  his  history,  was 
never  published,  and  is  not  available  now.  This  is  much  to  be  lamented, 
as  he  possessed  special  advantages  for  the  work  he  had  undertaken.  His 
long  residence  of  nearly  fifty  years  in  this  region,  his  opportunities  for 
obtaining  the  needed  information,  his  personal  acquaintance  with  many  of 
the  facts  to  be  recorded,  and  his  acknowledged  fitness  for  the  work,  all 
conspire  to  deepen  our  regret  that  he  did  not  finish  the  history  he  was 
appointed  to  write. 

In  preparing  the  history  here  presented,  every  accessible  source  of  in- 
formation known  to  us  has  been  laid  under  contribution.  Our  chief  depend- 
encies, however,  has  been  the  Records  of  the  Presbyteran  Church,  Dr. 
Foote's  "  Sketches  of  Virginia,"  and  the  more  recent  invaluable  labors  of 
the  Historical  Committee  of  our  Presbytery. 


THE 

Planting  of  Presbyterianism 

IN  THE 

Lower  Shenandoah  Valley 

AND  PARTS  ADJACENT. 

t£r*  t^*  *j^* 

EFORE  beginning  our  investigations,  it  is  important  that  we 
have  a  distinct  understanding  of  the  field  to  which  these  in- 
vestigations are  to  be  confined.  This  is  the  more  important 
as  the  bounds  originally  assigned  to  the  Presbytery  have  been 
greatly  reduced.  In  the  year  1859  the  larger  part  of  its  terri- 
tory was  set  off  to  form  the  Presbytery  of  "  Potomac,"  and 
the  line  of  the  Blue  Ridge  was  made  its  eastern  boundary. 
But  previous  to  that  year  our  Presbyterial  bounds  were  sub- 
stantially co-terminous  with  what  is  properly  known  as  "  The  Northern  Neck 
of  Virginia."  This  "Northern  Neck"  was  a  tract  of  land  granted  by 
King  Charles  II  to  Lord  Culpeper  when  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  of  which 
Lord  Fairfax  afterward  became  the  proprietor  by  inheritance.  It  was  a 
princely  grant,  extending  from  the  shore  of  Chesapeake  Bay  to  the  sum- 
mit of  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  and  embracing  all  that  territory  bounded 
on  the  northeast  and  north  by  the  Potomac  River  throughout  its  entire  length, 
and  on  the  south  by  the  Rappahannock  to  its  head  waters,  and  thence  by 
a  line  extending  westward  to  the  head  spring  of  the  North  Branch  of  the 
Potomac.  This  magnificent  domain,  including  twenty -five  of  the  richest 
counties  in  the  State,  was  the  territory  which  our  Presbytery  originally  em- 
braced. Our  task  is  to  discover,  so  far  as  it  is  possible  to  do  so  now,  the 
beginnings  and  earliest  history  of  the  Presbyterian  churches  in  this  territory, 
down  to  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery,  December  4,  1794. 
„  But  as  soon  as  we  enter  upon  our  task,  the  discouraging  conviction  is 
forced  upon  us  that  very  little  is  definitely  known  of  the  early  history  of  these 
churches,  and  that  the  most  careful  search  can  add  but  little  to  our  knowl- 
edge. This  is  due  largely  to  two  facts:  First,  the  very  scanty  and  imper- 
fect records  that  were  made  of  the  earliest  effort  to  establish  in  this  region 


6  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

our  system  of  doctrine,  polity,  and  worship;  and  secondly,  the  failure,  in 
most  instances,  to  preserve  even  such  scant  records  as  were  made.  The 
official  proceedings  of  Presbyteries  and  Synods  are  often  so  brief  and 
meagre  as  to  give  us  now  no  very  distinct  or  satisfactory  idea  of  the  events 
recorded.  And,  apart  from  the  brevity  of  such  documents  as  are  now  ex- 
tant, whole  volumes  of  Presbyterial  records  are  hopelessly  lost,  while  of 
sessional  records  not  a  line  has  been  produced.  For  these  reasons  the  Plant- 
ing of  Presbyterianism  within  our  bounds  is,  as  we  have  intimated,  involved 
in  much  obscurity,  and  we  are  left  in  great  uncertainty  even  as  to  the  exact 
period  of  its  introduction. 

While  there  was  a  settlement  on  the  James  River  as  early  as  1607, 
there  is  no  documentary  proof  of  any  immigration  to  the  Valley  of  the 
Shenandoah  for  more  than  a  hundred  years  later.  And  when  settlers  began 
to  enter  it,  they  did  not  come,  as  we  might  have  supposed,  from  the  East, 
across  the  Blue  Ridge,  but  from  the  North,  across  the  Potomac.  Nor  were 
these  hardy  pioneers  the  English  Episcopalians,  who  had  so  long  held 
Eastern  Virginia :  they  were  Scotch-Irish  Presbyterians,  and  Germans 
(  Reformed )  and  Quakers,  who,  having  landed  at  more  northern  ports,  had 
pushed  their  way  westward  across  the  Delaware,  and  beyond  the  Susque- 
hannah,  into  the  Cumberland  Valley,  and  thence  southward  across  Mary- 
land and  the  Potomac,  till  they  found  the  home  of  which  they  were  in  search, 
on  the  waters  of  the  Opecquon  and  the  Shenandoah.  But  the  date  of  this 
earliest  immigration  is  not  positively  determined. 

There  is  an  old  tradition  that  the  first  white  man  who  took  up  his  res- 
idence in  this  Valley  was  Morgan  Morgan,  a  native  of  Wales,  who,  in  1726, 
settled  at  what  is  now  Bunker  Hill,  in  Berkeley  County,  and  "built"  (says 
Dr.  Hawkes  in  his  "History  of  the  P.  E.  Church  in  Virginia")  "the  first 
cabin  that  was  reared  on  the  south  side  of  the  Potomac,  between  the  Blue 
Ridge  and  the  North  Mountains."  Six  years  later,  viz:  in  1732,  Joist 
Hite,  in  company  with  sixteen  families,  came  from  Pennsylvania  and  set- 
tled at  or  near  what  is  known  as  Bartonsville,  six  miles  southwest  of  Win- 
chester, which,  Dr.  Foote  says,  "was  the  first  regular  settlement  west  of 
the  Blue  Ridge  in  Virginia."  Vol.  I.,  p.  101.  Three  years  later  still,  a 
colony  of  much  more  interest  and  importance  to  us,  settled  in  that  same 
neighborhood.  William  Hoge,  the  ancestor  of  the  family  of  that  name, 
which  through  four  successive  generations  has  been  so  distinguished  in  the 
ministry  of  our  church,  himself  "  an  exile  for  Christ's  sake  from  Scot- 
land in  the  days  of  the  persecution,"  had  come  to  America  some  years  be- 
fore, settling  first  in  Amboy,  N.  J.,  then   in  Delaware,    then  in   Dauphin 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  7 

County,  Pa.,  and,  removing  thence,  settled,  about  the  year  1735,  near 
what  is  now  Kernstown,  three  miles  southwest  of  Winchester.  The  fam- 
ilies of  Glass,  Vance,  White  and  others,  whose  descendants  are  still  among 
us,  either  accompanied  him  here  or  joined  him  soon  after  his  arrival,  and 
united  with  him  in  the  organization  of  the  Opecquon  Church,  "the  oldest 
congregation  (says  Dr.  Foote)  west  of  the  Blue  Bidge."  Their  House  of 
Worship  was  erected  on  land  given  for  the  purpose  by  Mr.  Hoge. 

This  is  the  generally  accepted  account  of  the  earliest  settlement  of  our 
Valley,  and  of  the  introduction  of  Presbyterianism  within'  our  bounds.  But 
later  investigations  awaken  serious  doubts  as  to  its  correctness.  It  is  at 
least  challenged  by  the  tradition  which  Henry  Howe  preserved  in  his 
"Historical  Collections  of  Virginia"  (p.  192)  and  which  long  ago  was 
current  in  Berkeley  County,  that  "the  spot  where  Tuscarora  Church  now 
stands,  is  the  first  place  where  the  Gospel  was  publicly  preached  and  di- 
vine worship  performed  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge."  But  while  the  claim  of 
Tuscarora  to  a  very  early  origin  is  doubtless  well  founded,  tradition  of  it- 
self is  not  sufficient  to  determine  a  historical  fact.  Something  more  relia- 
ble must  be  advanced  if  we  would  set  aside  the  long  accepted  conclusions 
of  Dr.  Foote  and  others.  And  I  now  propose  to  show  that  there  is  sub- 
stantial ground  for  believing  that  Presbyterianism  was  introduced  into  our 
Valley  at  a  date  earlier  than  is  generally  supposed,  and  at  a  point  nearer 
to  the  mouth  than  to  the  head  of  the  Opecquon. 

In  the  records  of  the  old  Synod  of  Philadelphia  for  September  19, 
1719,  is  this  minute:  "The  Synod  having  received  a  letter  from  the  peo- 
ple of  Potomoke,  in  Virginia,  requesting  the  Synod's  care  and  diligence  to 
provide  them  an  able  Gospel  minister  to  settle  among  them;  it  was  ap- 
pointed that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Daniel  McGill  should  go  and  preach  to  that 
people  in  order  to  settlement  upon  mutual  agreement,"  etc.  The  next 
year,  September  22,  1720,  we  find  the  following  minute:  "Mr.  McGill 
reported  to  the  Synod  that  according  to  last  year's  appointment  he  went  to 
Potomoke,  in  Virginia,  and  after  some  months'  continuance  there,  put  the 
people  into  church  order."  And  then  it  is  added,  "The  said  congregation 
of  Potomoke,  in  Virginia,  have  sent  a  letter  to  the  Synod,  manifesting 
their  approbation  of  Mr.  McGill' s  whole  conduct  among  them,  and  desir- 
ing his  settling  with  them  as  their  minister."  This  request  was  consid- 
ered, but  action  upon  it  deferred  from  time  to  time,  till  finally  it  was  re- 
ferred to  the  Committee  of  Bills  and  Overtures,  whose  report,  if  any  was 
made,  is  not  .recorded,  and  the  name  does  not  appear  again  in  the  min- 
utes of  Synod. 


8  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

The  question  to  which  these  minutes  have  given  rise  is  as  to  the  loca- 
tion of  this  "Potomoke  in  Virginia."  This  question  is  a  perplexing  one, 
inasmuch  as  the  most  diligent  search  has  failed  to  find  even  the  name  any- 
where else  than  in  the  minutes  from  which  we  have  just  quoted.  Yet  the  dis- 
covery of  its  location  is  a  matter  of  very  great  interest  to  the  student  of  the 
early  history  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  country,  and  of  special  inter- 
est to  us  because  of  its  possible  bearing  upon  the  early  history  of  our  own 
Presbytery,  for  at  Potomoke — wherever  that  was — was  organized  the  second 
Presbyterian  Church  planted  in  Virginia.  Before  this  date  we  have  an  account 
of  only  "one  small  congregation  on  the  Elizabeth  River,  "and  "a  few  families 
favoring  our  way  on  the  Rappahannock  and  York,"  while  in  the  whole 
colony  there  was  not  a  single  resident  Presbyterian  minister.  [See  min- 
utes of  Synod,  pp.  20  and  54,  ''Letters."] 

No  wonder,  then,  that  the  historians  of  the  Church  have  sought  very 
earnestly  for  some  clue  that  would  enable  them  to  determine  the  locality 
in  question.  Some  have  tried  to  find  it  on  the  "Eastern  Shore."  Web- 
ster fixes  upon  Bladensburg,  Md.  Foote  '  'supposes' '  it  to  have  been  in  Fau- 
quier or  Loudoun  County,  or  somewhere  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge."  David- 
son says  that  "no  part  of  Virginia  at  that  period  answered  so  well  the  de- 
scription as  the  region  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge;"  and  he  "believed  the  peo- 
ple of  Potomoke  to  be  identical  with  the  congregations  of  Falling  Waters 
and  Tuscarora."  Gillett  positively  asserts  that  it  was  "near  the  present 
town  of  Martinsburg,  W.  Va."  But  most  confess  their  utter  inability  to 
discover  any  clue  whatever  to  its  probable  location,  and  some,  in  despair 
over  their  fruitless  efforts,  declare  that  every  trace  of  evidence  as  to  its 
location  is  lost,  and  the  place  must  now  remain  forever  unknown. 

But  a  matter  of  so  much  historical  interest  should  not  be  summarily 
dismissed  ;  and  recent  investigations  have  brought  to  my  knowledge  cer- 
tain facts  which  suggest  the  possibility  of  still  reaching  a  solution  of  this 
perplexing  question. 

One  very  suggestive  fact  is,  that  while  "Potomoke  in  Virginia"  dis- 
appears from  the  Records  of  the  Synod  after  1720,  the  expression  "the 
people  of  Virginia"  frequently  appears  in  the  Records  for  1722,  1723  and 
1724  ;  and  the  minutes  concerning  these  "people"  come  in  naturally  as  the 
continuance  of  the  minutes  concerning  "the  people  of  Potomoke  in  Virginia," 
making  the  conclusion  almost  irresistible,  that  the  two  expressions  refer  to 
the  same  people.  In  1724  the  whole  affair  touching  these  people  was  re- 
ferred by  the  Synod  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle.  But  the  expecta- 
tion which  this  reference  awakens — that  the   Records   of   that   Presbytery 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  9 

will  give  us  the  positive  information  we  seek — is  disappointed  by  the   fact 
that  those  Records  are  lost. 

In  1732  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  was  erected  out  of  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Castle  ;  and  gradually  the  interests  of  our  church  in  Virginia  came 
under  the  oversight  of  the  new  Presbytery.  And  here  we  meet  with  another 
very  suggestive  fact, viz., that  in  the  early  Records  of  Donegal  the  name  "Po- 
tomack  in  Virginia"  occurs  as  an  established  place  of  divine  worship.  The 
presumption  appears  a  reasonable  one  that  we  have  here  another  name  for 
'  'Potomoke  inVirginia, ' '  or  rather  a  different, but  correct, spelling  of  the  same 
name.  The  striking  similarity  of  the  two  words,  their  close  resemblance  in 
sound, the  fact  that  the  one  is  not  used  in  the  Records  till  the  other  disappears; 
indeed,  all  the  circumstances  known  to  us,  strongly  force  upon  us  the  con- 
viction that  Potomoke  and  Potomack  are  one  and  the  same  place.  The 
slight  difference  in  orthography  is  nothing  against  it,  for  first,  the  correct 
spelling  of  geographical  names  was  not,  at  that  time,  fixed  ;  and,  second- 
ly, even  after  the  correct  spelling  had  been  determined,  persons  not  famil- 
iar with  the  word,  or  to  whom  it  was  known  only  by  sound,  would  be 
likely  to  depart  from  the  fixed  orthography,  Even  in  these  Records  the 
word  Potomoke  is  once  written  Patomoke.  The  word  "Potomack"  appears 
in  six  different  forms,  exclusive  of  the  two  now  in  question.  The  name  of 
one  of  the  oldest  churches  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  "Opecquon,"  is 
spelled  in  the  Presbyterian  Records  not  less  than  twenty-four  different 
ways,  while  the  pronunciation  remains  the  same  in  all. 

Now,  as  it  is  scarcely  possible  that  a  people,  who  displayed  such 
persistent  zeal  in  obtaining  Gospel  ordinances  as  did  '  'the  people  of  Poto- 
moke," should  allow  them,  when  once  enjoyed,  to  pass  quickly  from 
their  possession,  and  as  we  can  find  no  trace  whatever  of  that  early 
church,  unless  we  find  it  in  that  Donegal  Record  to  which  we  have  just  re- 
ferred, and  as  all  the  facts  in  the  case  encourage  us  to  look  for  it  there, 
are  we  not  warranted  to  conclude,  not  only  that  "the  people  of  Potomoke, 
in  Virginia,"  and  "the  people  of  Virginia"  were  the  same  people;  but  also 
that  the  church  which  was  organized  among  them  by  the  Rev.  Daniel  Mc- 
Gill  in  1720,  and  which  awakened  so  much  interest  and  received  so  much 
attention  for  several  years  in  the  highest  court  of  the  Church,  and  was 
then  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  is  the  same  which,  at 
a  later  date,  reappears  as  the  church  of  "Potomack  in  Virginia"  in  the 
Records  of  Donegal  ? 

This  important  question  then  arises — where  was  Potomack  ?  That  it 
was  a  place  distinct  from   the   river   of   that   name   is  evident,  not  only 


10  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

from  the  fact  that  in  the  Minutes  of  Presbytery  it  is  mentioned  just  as 
other  churches  are,  but  also  from  the  fact  that  in  early  official  documents, 
other  than  ecclesiastical,  there  is  a  place  of  that  name  distinctly  mentioned. 
for  example,  Governor  Spottswood,  in  a  letter  to  the  "  Council  of  Trade," 
London,  dated  July  26,  1712,  speaks  of  "the  return  of  Baron  De  Graffenreid 
from  Potomack,"  and  in  his  letter  clearly  distinguishes  between  a  place  and 
the  river  of  that  name.  Now,  can  we  locate  that  place  ?  The  Records  of 
Donegal  Presbytery  enables  us  to  do  so  approximately.  The  frequent  as- 
sociation of  Potomac  with  Opecquon,  Bullskin  and  Tuscarora,  as  a  church 
to  be  supplied  at  the  same  time  with  them  and  by  the  same  missionary, 
makes  it  evident  that  it  was  in  easy  reach  of  these  well-known  churches, 
and  therefore,  somewhere,  in  the  northern  end  of  the  Valley  of  Virginia. 
The  references  in  the  Spottswood  Letters  (pp.  152,  153,  168)  point  in 
the  same  direction.  De  Graffenreid  had  evidently  set  out  to  visit  "  the 
f forks  of  Potomac,"  where,  after  his  disastrous  experience  in  North  Caro- 
lina, he  had  determined  to  settle  with  a  colony  of  his  Swiss  countrymen. 
Before  reaching  his  destination  he  seems  to  have  found  a  settlement — 
called  "Potomack"  from  which  he  sends  back  to  the  Governor  a  report  of 
his  progress;  and  the  Governor  sends  to  him  a  request  that,  when  his  des- 
tination is  reached,  he  would  prepare  him  "a  draught  of  both  those 
branches"  which  constitute  "the  f forks  of  Potomack."  There  is  nothing 
in  the  statements  of  these  letters  that  enables  us  to  fix  positively  the  loca- 
tion of  "Potomack,"  yet  the  facts  and  circumstances  that  are  mentioned 
make  it  difficult  to  resist  the  conclusion  that  the  place  was  west  of  the 
Blue  Ridge,  and  at  some  point  on  the  river  well  up  towards  its  "head 
springs."  The  testimony  of  these  two  witnesses,  together  with  all  the  facts 
we  have  been  able  to  gather,  which  bear  upon  the  case  at  all,  seem  to 
point  with  singular  clearness  to  the  village  of  Shepherdstown — or  to  its  im- 
mediate neighborhood — as  the  site  of  the  place  we  are  trying  to  locate;  for 

1.  The  name  itself  suggests  its  proximity  to  the  Potomac  River. 

2.  The  Pack-Horse  Ford,  by  which  the  early  emigrants  crossed  the 
Potomac  on  entering  the  Valley,  was  at  Shepherdstown,  and  naturally  an 
early  settlement  would  be  made  at  or  near  the  ford. 

3.  Every  mention  of  Potomack  Church  in  the  Minutes  of  Presbytery  is 
attended  with  circumstances  which  show  that  it  must  have  been  there  or 
in  that  vicinity. 

4.  The  mention  of  it  in  the  Governor's  letter  agrees  with  this  theory 
of  its  location  better  than  with  any  other. 

4.  The  fact  is  of  no  little  significance  that,  as  soon   as   the   name   of 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  11 

Shepherdstown  is  introduced  into  the  Presbyterial  Records  as   designating 
a  church,  the  name  Potomack  disappears. 

6.  But  besides  this  strong  presumptive  evidence  as  to  the  location  of 
"Potomack,"  we  have  this  further  testimony  that  is  direct  and  positive:  A 
gentleman  residing  in  Winchester,  Va.,  in  1891  and  nearly  ninety  years  of 
age,  but  in  full  possession  of  his  mental  faculties,  whose  youth  was  spent 
near  Shepherdstown,  testified  that,  in  his  boyhood,  the  common  name  for 
the  village,  through  the  surrounding  country,  was  "Potomac." 

These  considerations  and  facts  would  seem  to  be  conclusive  in  deter- 
mining the  location  of  the  church  called  "Potomack,  in  Virginia."  And 
if,  as  seems  so  probable,  this  name  is  another  and  the  correct  one  for  "Po- 
tomoke  in  Virginia, ' '  then  it  determines  the  long-mooted  question  as  to  the 
location  of  "the  people"  who  in  1720  were  reported  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mc- 
Gill  to  have  been  "put  into  church  order"  by  him  ;  and  it  also  fixes  the 
place  where  the  second  duly  constituted  Presbyterian  Church  in  Virginia 
was  planted. 

But  to  this  conclusion  it  is  objected  that  any  testimony  that  would  lo- 
cate "Potomoke"  anywhere  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia  "is  inadmissable, 
because  there  were  no  white  inhabitants  of  the  Valley  anywhere  along  the 
Potomac  or  Shenandoah  previous  to  about  the  year  1733"  (Foote's 
Sketches,  Vol.  I.,  p.  357).  If  this  statement  is  correct,  our  conclusion 
must,  of  course,  be  abandoned.  But  the  statement  not  only  affirms  more 
than  the  facts  will  justify,  but  what  the  facts  themselves  actually  contra- 
dict. The  early  historians  of  the  Valley  evidently  thought  that  the  first 
settlements  made  were  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Opecquon.  And  it  is 
probably  true  that  there  were  no  white  inhabitants  there  "previous  to 
about  the  year  1733."  But  it  by  no  means  follows  that  there  were  none 
nearer  the  Potomac.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  emigration  to  the 
Valley  was  from  the  North,  crossing  the  Potomac.  And  no  sufficient 
reason  has  ever  been  given,  and  none  can  be  given,  why  the  first  settlers 
should  pass  over  the  beautiful,  fertile  and  well-watered  lands  of  Jefferson 
and  Berkeley  Counties — "  the  finest  in  the  world" — and  select  lands  fifty 
miles  or  more  further  south  that  offered  no  superior  advantages  in  respect 
either  to  productiveness  or  beauty,  if  those  more  accessible  and  better 
lands  were  still  unoccupied. 

But  there  is  authority  for  saying  that  these  sharp-witted  men  were  not 
guilty  of  this  folly.  Evidence  is  not  wanting  that  much  of  that  land  was 
already  claimed.  A  considerable  body  of  Quakers  had  settled  about  the 
Ross  (now  Washington)  Spring,  6  miles  north   of   Winchester,    and  had 


12  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

built  the  "Hopewell  Meeting  House"  several  years  earlier  than  the  settle- 
ment on  the  upper  Opecquon.  There  has  been  preserved  the  certificate,  or 
record,  of  the  marriage  of  John  Ross  to  Lydia  Hollingsworth  at  the  Hope- 
well Meeting  House,  Orange  County,  Va.,  October  11,  1735  ;  and  to  this 
certificate  are  signed  the  names  of  47  witnesses.  This  number  is  very  sig- 
nificant. That  there  should  have  been  so  many  present  ( adults,  of  course ) 
as  certifying  witnesses  to  a  marriage,  indicates  a  much  larger  population 
than  could  probably  have  been  gathered  in  one  community  in  the  space  of 
only  two  years.  Morgan  Morgan  and  his  company  had  made  their  homes 
on  Mill  Creek,  in  Berkeley  County,  not  later  than  1726.  Norris,  in  his 
History  of  the  Lower  Valley,  gives  uncontradicted  traditions  of  various 
settlements  still  nearer  the  Potomac  before  the  immigration  flowed  over 
into  Frederick  County.  It  is  certain  there  were  settlers  on  the  Maryland 
side  of  the  Potomac  as  early  probably  as  1720.  Dr.  Cameron,  of  Prince- 
ton University,  has  the  deed  for  mill  property  lying  opposite  Shepherds- 
town,  purchased  by  his  ancestors  in  1726.  The  mill  had  been  used  for 
some  years  before  the  purchase  was  made.  Of  course,  there  were  people 
there  whose  wants  the  mill  was  intended  to  supply.  And  with  only  a  nar- 
row and  fordable  river  to  be  crossed  we  know  of  no  reason  why  the  settle- 
ment should  have  been  confined  to  the  Maryland  side. 

But  there  is  additional  proof  that  there  were  ' '  white  inhabitants  in  this 
Valley  previous  to  about  1733,"  Governor  Spottswood,  the  ablest  of  all 
the  colonial  Governors  of  Virginia,  signalized  his  term  of  office  by  earnest 
efforts  to  secure  settlements  on  his  western  frontier,  and  thereby  afford 
protection  to  Eastern  Virginia  against  the  incursions  of  the  Indians.  His 
success  was  probably  not  commensurate  with  his  efforts.  And  yet  his 
"Letters"  show  that  as  early  as  1712,  twenty  years  before  Hite  crossed 
the  Potomac,  there  were  settlers  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge ;  and  before  the 
"Knights  of  the  Horseshoe"  crossed  the  mountains  no  inconsiderable  num- 
ber of  people  had  made  their  homes  along  the  Potomac  River,  and  "in 
the  mountains  of  the  Northern  Neck,"  and  even  in  "the  f forks  of  the  Po- 
tomac." The  Baron  De  Graff enreid  on  his  visit  to  "the  f forks  of  the  Po- 
tomac" had  informed  the  Governor  (  "Letters,"  pp.  152-3  and  161-2  and 
8 )  that  he  had  obtained  important  information  as  to  the  resources  of  that 
country  from  the  people  whom  he  met ;  and  that  one  man  particularly, 
Mr.  Mitchell,  a  Swiss  gentleman, who  had  traveled  through  all  that  country 
some  years  before,  was  convinced  that  it  abounded  in  valuable  minerals. 
The  Baron  himself,  who  had  experience  in  mining,  was  persuaded  that 
"The  Forks,"  where  he  had  intended  to  settle,  was  rich  in  mineral  wealth; 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  13 

but  he  was  discouraged  from  taking  his  colony  there,  by  the  conflicting 
claims  to  the  ownership  of  the  land  made  by  the  agents,  respectively,  of 
Lord  Baltimore,  the  Lady  Fairfax,  and  the  British  Queen.  Moreover,  in 
1722,  Governor  Spottswood  effected  a  treaty  with  the  Indians,  which,  while 
imposing  no  restrictions  whatever  upon  the  movements  of  the  whites,  bound 
the  Indians,  under  the  severest  penalties,  not  to  cross  the  Potomac  or  the 
Blue  Ridge,  in  either  direction,  without  special  permission.  In  the  treaty 
itself  the  reason  for  making  it  is  given.  It  was  for  the  protection  of  "  the 
Anglo-Saxon  race,"  which,  as  Charles  Campbell,  in  his  History  of  Vir- 
ginia, p.  433,  says,  had  "  gradually  extended  itself,  like  a  vapor,  beyond 
the  western  base  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  collisions  with  the  native  tribes 
had  begun  to  ensue."  Evidently  there  were  white  inhabitants  west  of  the 
Ridge  and  south  of  the  Potomac  at  that  date.  Further  evidence  is  fur- 
nished by  the  Act  of  Assembly  of  1738,  forming  the  county  of  Frederick. 
In  that  Act,  the  reason  explicitly  given  for  the  erection  of  the  new  county 
is,  that  "great  numbers  of  people  have  settled  themselves  of  late  x  x  x 
on  the  northwest  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  whereby  the  strength  of  the  col- 
ony, and  its  security,  and  its  revenues  are  like  to  be  increased."  At  that 
day,  five  years  would  not  suffice  for  such  a  large  increase  of  population  as 
this  Act  acknowledges. 

And  there  was  a  reason  for  this  increase  in  the  population  of  the  Shen- 
andoah Valley,  even  while  the  Cumberland  Valley  was  still  sparsely  settled. 
The  presence  of  the  Scotch-Irish  was  not  welcomed  in  Pennsylvania.  They 
were  regarded  as  a  "  pugnacious  "  people,  and  undesirable  neighbors.  In 
1724,  James  Logan,  secretary  of  the  Province,  wrote  of  them,  "  It  looks  to 
me  as  if  Ireland  is  to  send  all  its  inhabitants  hither;  for  last  week  not  less 
than  six  ships  arrived  x  x  x  The  common  fear  is  that  if  they  thus 
continue  to  come,  they  will  make  themselves  proprietors  of  the  Province. 
It  is  strange  that  they  thus  crowd  where  they  are  not  wanted."  Accordingly, 
while  others  were  treated  with  kindness,  these  were  often  driven  from  their 
settlements,  their  cabins  burned,  and  they  told  to  move  further  on  in  the 
wilderness.  Thus  ejected,  not  a  few  of  them  moved  southward,  and  found 
in  Virginia  that  freedom  from  molestation  which  was  denied  them  in  the 
Province  of  William  Penn. 

But  there  is  still  more  convincing  evidence  of  an  early  settlement  here. 
In  the  old  graveyard  on  Elk  Branch,  5  miles  south  of  Shepherdstown, 
where,  more  than  a  hundred  years  ago,  stood  the  ruins  of  a  Presbyterian 
Church,  is  a  tombstone,  the  German  inscription  on  which,  until  within  a  few 
years  past,  was  quite  legible,  though  now,  since  the  stone  has  fallen  and 


14  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

been  trampled  over,  the  inscription  is  partially  effaced.  It  was  erected  to 
the  memory  of  Katarina  Beierlin,  a  Christian  woman,  and  states  that  she 
died  in  1707.  The  correctness  of  these  figures  can  hardly  be  disputed. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  John  A.  Scott,  pastor  of  the  Elk  Branch  Church  in  1869, 
says  that,  in  company  with  three  other  persons,  he  had  the  old  stone 
cleaned  of  lichen  and  washed,  and  was  then  able,  very  satisfactorily,  to 
read  the  inscription  and  date  of  death,  1707.  He  further  testified  that 
three  intelligent  persons  had  previously  examined  the  stone,  and  their  read- 
ing agreed  with  his.  Persons  residing  in  the  neighborhood  have  known  of 
the  existence  of  this  stone  for  more  than  fifty  years,  and  their  understand- 
ing has  always  been  that  the  date  it  gives  of  the  woman's  death  is  1707. 
This  must  be  taken  as  certain  proof  that  white  people  resided  there  at  least 
as  early  as  that  date.  The  grave  of  a  woman,  carefully  marked,  can  mean 
nothing  else. 

Beyond  all  reasonable  contradiction,  then,  there  were  white  inhabitants 
in  this  lower  Valley  many  years  prior  to  the  settlement  of  Hite  on  the  Opec- 
quon,  or  of  the  Friends  around  Hopewell  Meeting  House,  or  of  Morgan  on 
Mill  Creek.  These  inhabitants  may  have  been  "  squatters,"  they  probably 
were;  but  they  were  there.  And  as  this  fact  meets  and  removes  the  only 
objection  that  is  offered  to  the  conclusion  we  have  reached,  it  is  not  unrea- 
sonable to  insist  that  that  conclusion  ought  to  be  accepted  as  probably  cor- 
rect. While  we  dare  not  affirm  its  absolute  certainty,  or  claim  that  the 
location  of  "  Potomoke  in  Virginia"  is  hereby  established  beyond  all  possi- 
ble dispute;  yet  we  do  modestly  insist  that,  as  no  other  location  has  been  found 
for  it,  and  as  all  the  evidence  known  to  us  is  in  support  of  the  location  we 
have  given  it,  until  its  existence  in  some  other  place  is  positively  proven, 
we  must  be  allowed  to  believe  that  the  "  Potomack  in  Virginia,"  of  the 
Presbyterial  Records,  is  the  "  Potomoke  in  Virginia,"  of  the  Synodical  Rec- 
ords; and  that  the  long-sought-for  locality  in  which,  in  1720,  "the  people 
of  Potomoke  were  put  into  church  order,"  is  to  be  found  at,  or  near,  Shep- 
herdstown  in  West  Virginia,  and  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Winchester. 

Before  concluding  this  discussion  of  an  earlier  settlement  of  this 
Valley  than  Kerch! val  allows,  notice  should  perhaps  be  taken  of  the  alleged 
absence  of  any  documentary  evidence  of  such  settlement.  Against  our  con- 
tentions it  is  claimed  that  there  are  no  title  deeds  earlier  than  Hite's.  This 
claim  is  disputed;  but,  if  true,  it  amounts  to  nothing.  It  is  based  upon  an 
entire  misapprehension  of  the  conditions  then  existing.  For  fifteen  years 
after  Hite  came  there  were  no  land  offices  west  of  the  Blue    Ridge,  from 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  15 

which  titles  could  be  obtained;  and  the  early  pioneers  did  not  concern 
themselves  about  legal  formalities, where  no  officers  were  present  to  enforce 
them.  Without  putting  themselves  to  the  trouble  and  expense  of  a  tedious 
journey  to  a  distant  Court  House,  or  to  the  Capital,  they  just  took  possession 
of  any  unclaimed  land  that  suited  them,  and  attended  to  securing  a  title 
afterwards.  For  the  present,  what  was  called  a  "tomahawk  right"  was 
sufficient.  This  consisted  in  girding  a  few  trees  near  a  spring  or  stream, 
and  cutting  the  claimant's  name  in  the  bark.  This,  of  course,  was  no  right 
in  law;  but  it  was  generally  respected  by  other  settlers,  and  deeds  were 
usually  given  for  what  was  claimed.  When  a  colony,  like  that  of  Hite.was 
about  to  migrate,  requiring  a  large  tract  of  land,  the  formalities  of  the  law 
were  complied  with,  and  a  special  grant  secured,  either  directly  from  the 
Crown  or  from  the  authorities  at  Williamsburg.  But  when  the  settlers  were 
only  a  family  or  two,  no  such  expensive  procedure  was  thought  of.  In 
fact,  the  laws  of  the  colony  provided  that  many  classes  of  people  could, 
without  any  expense  to  themselves,  claim  a  tract  of  50  acres,  and  when 
that  was  "  planted  and  seated  " — i.  e.,  when  any  portion  of  it  was  cultivated 
and  a  building  erected — they  were  entitled  to  50  acres  more.  Under  these 
conditions  no  very  early  title  deeds  could  be  expected. 


And  now,  conceding  that  we  may  date  the  origin  of  Presbyterianism 
in  this  region  as  far  back,  at  least,  as  1720,  what  has  been  its  history  since? 
For  a  period  of  about  seventy  years  it  is  not  possible  to  trace  this  history 
in  detail  with  absolute  certainty.  Only  this  is  clear,  that  the  Presbyterian 
population,  when  once  immigration  began,  rapidly  increased;  and  the 
inference  is  fair,  and,  in  fact,  is  sustained  by  such  meagre  records  as  we 
have,  as  well  as  by  uniform  tradition,  that  these  early  settlers  brought  their 
Bibles  and  Catechisms  and  Confessions  of  Faith  with  them;  and  no  sooner 
was  a  settlement  effected,  than  measures  were  taken  to  provide  themselves 
with  the  ordinances  of  religion.  The  sacrifices  which  this  required  did  not 
deter  them.  Commissioners  were  sent  hundreds  of  miles,  at  great  cost  of 
time  and  money,  ' '  supplicating  ' '  Synod  and  Presbyteries  to  supply  them 
with  the  ministrations  of  the  Word  of  God.  And  both  Synod  and  Presby- 
tery were  diligent  in  meeting,  so  far  as  their  limited  resources  would  enable 


16  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

them  to  do  it,  the  appeals  which  came  to  them  for  help.  These  appeals 
came  from  widely  distant  points;  indeed,  the  early  Synodical  Records, 
and  those  of  Presbytery  as  well,  show  that  almost  all  the  ministers  of  that 
day  were  engaged  about  half  their  time  in  evangelistic  work;  their  field  of 
labor  extending  from  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  to  those  of  the  Savannah. 
A  few  years  ago,  while  trying  to  get  at  the  early  history  of  our  church  in 
this  Lower  Valley,  I  was  asked  to  help  prepare  the  history  of  the  church 
in  which  I  was  born  and  raised — the  old  ' '  Wallkill ' '  ( now  ' '  Goodwill ' ' ) 
church,  the  oldest,  but  one,  west  of  the  Hudson  in  New  York.  While  en- 
gaged in  this  work,  it  was  to  me  a  matter  of  much  interest,  and  also  of 
surprise,  to  find  that  many  of  the  ministers  who  assisted  at  the  organization^ 
and  were  the  early  supplies  of  the  Wallkill  church,  were  the  same  who 
visited  this  Valley,  and  preached  at  Opecquon,  Cedar  Creek,  Bullskin  and 
elsewhere. 

And  here  let  me  remark,  that  when  the  standard  of  our  faith  and 
worship  was  first  erected  here,  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  America  was 
yet  in  its  infancy.  It  assumed  its  ecclesiastical  form  in  the  latter  part 
of  1705,  or  the  beginning  of  1706,  by  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Philadelphia.  In  1716  this  Presbytery  had  become  so  large  that  it  was 
divided  into  four,  viz:  Philadelphia,  New  Castle,  Snow  Hill  and  Long  Island, 
and  the  "  Synod  of  Philadelphia"  was  constituted.  Four  years  later  the 
general  statistics  of  the  church,  so  far  as  known,  were  one  Synod,  four 
Presbyteries,  and  twenty-seven  ministers.  The  number  of  churches  and 
their  membership  cannot  be  given  with  any  claim  to  accuracy. 

From  the  time  of  its  introduction  the  growth  of  our  cause  in  this  region 
was  steady,  if  not  rapid.  Two  years  after  "the  people  of  Potomoke  " 
had  been  "  put  in  church  order,"  viz:  in  1722,  another  representation  was 
made  to  Synod,  "of  the  earnest  desire  of  some  Protestant  dissenting  families 
in  Virginia  "  for  church  privileges,  "  together  with  a  comfortable. prospect 
of  the  increase  of  our  interests  there;"  and  the  Synod  responded  by  sending 
three  ministers  to  visit  severally  said  people,  and  preach  four  Sabbaths 
each  to  them  (p.  74).  These  ministers  fulfilled  their  appointments,  and 
the  next  year  (1723)  further  representations  were  made  from  Virginia,  and 
additional  supplies  were  sent  them  (  p.  76 ) .  At  the  same  time  ' '  a  Letter 
of  Address"  was  sent  by  the  Synod  to  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  evidently 
on  behalf  of  these  Presbyterian  people. 

Now,  it  is  not  said  from  what  part  of  Virginia  these  early  applications 
for  supplies  came;  but  from  all  the  facts  recorded  it  appears  almost  certain 
that  they  came  from  the  Northern  Neck  of  Virginia  and  possibly  from  this 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  17 

Lower  Valley.  They  were  evidently  new  settlements,  rapidly  increasing  in 
population,  and  composed  largely  of  people  of  Presbyterian  faith,  that  sent 
the  "  supplications;"  and  these  facts  point  almost  unmistakably  to  the  ter- 
ritory accupied  by  this  Presbytery.  But  while  we  meet  with  some  sugges- 
tive hints,  nothing  very  definite — owing  to  loss  of  the  New  Castle  Records 
—  can  be  found  after  1723,  until  about  the  time  the  colonies  of  Hite  and 
Hoge  settled  in  Frederick  County.  In  the  meantime  (viz:  in  1732),  the 
Presbytery  of  Donegal  was  erected  in  the  Cumberland  Valley,  and  upon  it, 
as  territorially  near,  the  supply  of  the  destitutions  here,  principally,  though 
not  exclusively,  devolved.  This  duty  engaged  the  active  attention  of  that 
Presbytery  as  early  as  1736,  though  there  is  evidence  that  some  of  its  min- 
isters made  missionary  journeys  through  this  region  earlier  than  that.  From 
this  time,  through  a  period  of  several  years,  distinct  record  is  made  by 
both  Presbytery  and  Synod  of  supplications  ' '  from  different  societies  of 
our  persuasion  in  Virginia,"  being  taken  under  consideration. 

It  is  about  this  time,  viz:  1737,  that  we  first  meet  with  that  expression, 
which,  after  this  date,  becomes  familiar  in  both  the  Presbyterial  and  Syn- 
odical  Records — "  a  supplication  was  received  from  the  back  parts  of  Vir- 
ginia." The  expression,  I  think,  has  very  generally  been  misunderstood. 
It  has  been  supposed  to  designate  chiefly,  if  not  exclusively,  the  region 
now  covered  by  our  Presbytery.  And  as  it  is  manifestly  used  with  refer- 
ence to  people  who  have  just  settled,  or  are  just  about  to  settle  in  these 
"  back  parts  of  Virginia,"  I  could  not  see  how  the  theory  of  an  earlier  set- 
tlement of  this  Lower  Valley,  than  that  held  by  Kercheval  and  others, 
could,  consistently  with  such  a  meaning  of  this  phrase,  be  maintained. 
But  there  are  certain  facts  in  the  Record  itself  which  show  conclusively  that 
it  is  Augusta  County  and  not  Frederick,  that  the  phrase  is  meant  to 
designate.  In  the  first  place,  "the  people  of  Beverly  Manor,"  which  is 
known  to  have  been  in  Augusta,  are  expressly  located  in  "  the  back  parts 
of  Virginia."  In  the  second  place,  the  supplies,  sent  in  answer  to  these 
supplications,  are  directed  to  preach  at  Bullskin,  Opecquon  and  elsewhere 
on  their  way  to  "  the  back  parts  of  Virginia."  And  in  the  third  place,  the 
ministers  sent  as  supplies  are  men  who  are  known  to  have  labored  at  that 
very  time  in  Augusta  County.  But  twenty  years  before  Rev.  John  Craig, 
their  first  supply,  began  his  labors  in  the  Upper  Valley,  Rev.  Daniel  Mc- 
Gill  had  preached  at  Potomoke  and  "  set  the  people  in  church  order;" 
and  in  1722  and  1723  Rev.  Hugh  Conn,  John  Orme,  William  Stewart  and 
the  celebrated  Johnathan  Dickinson  had  been  sent  as  itinerants  through 
these  lower  counties. 


18  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

The  first  Presbyterian  minister,  however,  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  of 
whose  history  and  fields  of  labor  we  have  distinct  and  unquestioned  knowl- 
edge, was  Rev.  Samuel  Gelston,  who  preached  at  Opecquon  in  1735.  Mr. 
Gelston  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1692,  came,  a  Licentiate,  to  this  country  in 
1715,  was  ordained  in  1717,  and  settled  at  Southampton,  L.  I.  Ten  years 
later  he  removed  to  Maryland,  where  he  fell  under  the  censure  of 
his  Presbytery  ( New  Castle ) .  Going  into  the  Highlands  of  New  York, 
evil  reports  of  him  came  back  to  his  Presbytery,  and  he  was  suspended; 
but  the  suspension  was  soon  removed  by  a  commission  of  Synod,  and  he 
came  in  1735  to  Virginia.  The  next  year  application  for  his  ministerial 
services  was  made  to  Presbytery  "from  both  parts  of  Opekan" —  i.  e., 
from  Opecquon  proper,  and  Cedar  Creek,  which  two  churches  for  nearly 
a  hundred  years  were  associated  in  one  pastoral  charge.  In  answer  to  this 
application,  he  was  appointed  to  visit  "the  new  inhabitants  near  Opekan." 
If  he  filled  this  appointment  it  was  only  for  a  brief  period;  for  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year  he  was  dismissed  from  his  Presbytery.  He  died  October 
22,  1782,  aged  90  years. 

Mr.  Gelston  was  followed  by  Rev.  James  Anderson,  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  of  the  early  Presbyterian  ministers  in  America.  Born  and 
ordained  in  Scotland,  he  left  there  in  1709.  After  preaching  for  brief 
periods  at  different  places,  he  became,  in  1717,  the  first  pastor  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  city  of  New  York;  but  difficulties  arising  in 
his  charge,  he,  in  1726,  accepted  a  call  to  Donegal  Presbytery;  and  eleven 
years  thereafter  (1737)  we  find  him  visiting  Opecquon.  This  visit  was 
made  memorable  by  the  fact  that  either  in  that  year,  or  within  the  next 
two  years,  he  organized  our  "old  Opecquon  Church." 

From  1735  the  claims  of  the  settlers  on  this  side  the  Potomac  engaged 
the  attention  of  the  Presbytery  at  every  session.  At  first,  however,  a  se- 
rious bar  to  its  efforts  was  found  in  the  hostility  of  the  Virginia  Govern- 
ment to  the  worship  of  the  "Dissenters."  East  of  the  Ridge  they  were 
persistently  persecuted;  and  west  of  it  they  were  barely  tolerated.  There- 
fore, in  1738,  the  Synod,  at  the  request  of  Presbytery,  sent  a  deputation, 
with  a  letter  to  Governor  Gooch,  soliciting  his  favor  on  behalf  of  the  Pres- 
byterian interests  of  the  colony.  This  action  was  taken  at  the  instance  of 
John  Caldwell,  a  Ruling  Elder  of  Chestnut  Level,  Pa.,  and  the  great  grand- 
father of  John  Caldwell  Calhoun,  of  South  Carolina.  The  Rev.  Mr.  An- 
derson was  deputed  to  bear  the  letter  of  the  Synod.  He  was  kindly  re- 
ceived by  the  Governor,  and  his  mission  resulted  very  satisfactorily. 

We  can  readily  imagine,  however,  that  a   reason  much   more   potent 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  19 

than  the  simple  justice  of  the  request,  should  have  induced  the  Government 
to  grant  it.  It  would  tend  to  the  encouragement  of  immigration  along  the 
western  frontier,  and  so  contribute  to  the  security  of  the  older  settlements. 
Those  hardy  immigrants  would  serve  as  a  defense  against  the  incursions  of 
the  Indians;  and,  therefore,  no  questions  would  be  raised  in  reference  to 
their  ecclesiastical  faith  and  order.  As  Gillett  says,  "If  they  could  handle 
a  rifle,  or  plant  along  the  western  forests  a  line  of  protection  against  the  in- 
roads of  hostile  savages,  they  were  sufficiently  orthodox.  Their  distance, 
moreover,  prevented  any  umbrage  being  taken  at  a  dissent  that  did  not  at- 
tract notice,  or  give  offence."     (Vol.  I.,  p.  106.) 

Presbyterianism  being  thus  left  to  plant  itself  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge 
without  serious  molestation  from  the  State  Church  on  the  tidewater,  more 
earnest  efforts  were  made  to  supply  these  western  settlements.  Rev.  John 
Thomson,  the  pastor  of  Elder  Caldwell,  who  had  visited  this  Valley  and 
preached  at  Opecquon,  proposed  to  his  Presbytery  that  an  itinerant  should 
be  sent  to  this  region;  and  his  brethren  appointed  him  to  this  duty.  But 
he  was  afterward' s  excused  "because  of  the  severity  of  the  winter  and  the 
scarcity  of  provender."  The  same  year  (1738)  "both  parts  of  Opecquon 
supplicated  for  him;"  and  it  was  his  wish  to  become  their  pastor,  but  his 
Presbytery  would  not  consent.  The  next  year  (1739)  another  supplica- 
tion came  "from  the  back  parts  of  Virginia"  (i.  e.,  from  Augusta  County) 
and  five  years  later  (in  1744)  Mr.  Thomson  made  his  home  in  the  Upper 
Valley;  and,  with  Messrs.  Black  and  Craig,  was  entrusted  with  the  over- 
sight of  all  missionary  operations  in  that  part  of  Virginia. 

Meanwhile  the  interests  of  this  Lower  Valley  were  not  neglected.  Be- 
sides the  services  of  Rev.  William  Bertram,  Presbytery  appointed,  Novem- 
ber 16,  1739,  Licentiate  John  Craig  "to  supply  at  Opekan,  the  High 
f  Hite  ?)  Tract  and  other  societies  of  our  persuasion  in  Virginia,  at  his  dis- 
cretion." He  spent  the  summer  in  this  region,  and  the  next  year  was  set- 
tled in  Augusta  as  first  pastor  of  the  "Triple  Forks  of  Shenandoah." 

The  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  April  1,  1740,  appointed  Rev.  James 
Anderson  to  "write  to  Upikin"  (another  of  the  multitudinous  spellings  of 
Opecquon)  and  the  next  day  ordered  "that  Mr.  Caven  visit  Bullskin  on 
the  third  Sabbath  of  this  instant,  and  at  Upekin  the  Friday  before."  Rev. 
Samuel  Caven  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  efficient  ministers  of  the 
Presbytery.  He  came  a  licentiate  from  Ireland;  his  ministerial  labors 
were  given  mainly  to  the  settlements  in  the  Lower  Cumberland  Valley  in 
Pennsylvania,  serving  churches  in  Mercersburg,  Chambersburg,  Greencastle 
and  elsewhere;  but  was  often  sent  to  visit  the   settlements   and   churches 


20  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

south  of  the  Potomac.  In  December,  1740,  we  find  him  again  at  Opec- 
quon,  where  he  seems  to  have  remained  for  a  considerable  time,  and  to 
have  performed  important  work. 

About  this  time  we  find  the  name  of  a  Mr.  Lyn  in  connection  with 
Opecquon  Church.  On  September  3,  1740,  Presbytery  "received  a  sup- 
plication from  Opecquon  in  Virginia,  after  the  manner  of  a  call  for  Mr. 
Lyn."  But  "  finding  it  impossible  to  gratify  such  a  request  at  present, 
they  appointed  Mr.  Craig  to  supply  them  one  Sabbath  as  he  goes  to  Vir- 
ginia (i.  e.,  to  Augusta  County)  and  to  moderate  a  call  for  Mr.  Lyn." 
At  the  same  time  "  Mr.  Lyn  was  ordered  to  supply  several  places  in 
Pennsylvania  and  Opecquon  by  turns  till  the  next  meeting."  Mr.  Craig 
moderated  the  call,  and  it  was  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Lyn  December  11, 
1740.  Meanwhile,  Mr.  Caven,  while  at  Opecquon,  was  directed  "  to  in- 
quire into  the  grounds  of  Mr.  Gillespie's  information  relating  to  Mr.  Lyn, 
and  make  report  of  it  to  the  next  meeting."  And  with  this  minute  the 
name  of  Mr.  Lyn  disappears  from  the  records. 

Mr.  Caven  was  followed  late  in  1742  by  Rev.  William  Robinson,  an 
eminently  devout  and  benevolent  man,  and  one  of  the  most  vigorous  and 
effective  preachers  of  his  day.  Born  in  England  and  coming  to  this  country 
in  early  manhood,  he  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick 
in  1741.  In  the  winter  of  the  next  year,  at  the  earnest  request  of  the  peo- 
ple, he  was  sent  to  visit  the  Presbyterian  settlements  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley  and  further  South.  The  results  of  his  mission  in  the  Valley  could 
not  have  been  very  great,  for  soon  after  his  arrival  he  was  seized,  near  Win- 
chester, by  the  sheriff,  who  started  with  him  to  Williamsburg,  where  he 
must  answer  to  the  Governor  for  preaching  without  a  license  from  him. 
But  before  reaching  his  destination  the  officer  became  so  impressed  with 
the  good  sense  and  piety  of  his  prisoner,  that  he  released  him  and  allowed 
him  to  continue  his  mission  unmolested.  His  work,  thus  rudely  interrupted 
in  the  Valley,  was  pursued  with  remarkable  success  in  Eastern  Virginia. 
His  brilliant  ministry,  of  less  than  five  years,  was  suddenly  terminated  by 
death,  in  April,  1746.  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  says  of  him,  that  "dur- 
ing the  short  period  of  his  life  he  was  probably  the  instrument  in  the  con- 
version of  as  many  souls  as  any  minister  who  ever  lived  in  this  country." 
It  was  through  his  instrumentality  that  Rev.  Samuel  Davies  was  brought  to 
Virginia. 

Mr.  Robinson,  who  made  but  a  passing  visit  to  Opecquon, and  to  other 
points  in  this  region,  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Hindman,  of  whose  la- 
bors we  have  no  very  definite  knowledge.     He  was   licensed  by  Donegal 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  21 

July  2,  1741;  and  the  next  year,  June  16,  1742,  "  upon  a  motion  that  Mr. 
Hynman  ( Hindman )  be  ordained  sine  titulo,  as  a  missionary  to  the  back  part 
of  Virginia,  in  order  to  baptize,  etc.,  the  Presbytery  agreed  thereto  and 
ordered  that  he  shall,  at  our  next  session,  deliver  a  common  head,  viz: 
whether  preparatory  or  common  convictions  be  necessary  to  conversion; 
and  an  homily  on  Psalm  37.  Also  that  he  supply  in  Virginia  till  our  next; 
in  his  way  thither  he  is  to  preach  at  Opekon  and  a  week  day  at  Bullskin." 
He  was  ordained  November  11,  1742,  and  was  sent  at  once  as  an  evangel- 
ist to  Virginia— probably  to  the  Upper  Valley.  But  the  next  year  June 
21,  1743,  he  was  appointed  to  supply  Opecquon  during  a  part  of  July. 
There  is  reason  to  believe  that,  until  the  spring  of  1745,  his  labors  were 
given  to  Opecquon,  Bullskin  and  other  points  in  this  region. 

Rev.  Samuel  Caven,  whose  visits  to  this  Lower  Valley  have  already 
been  so  frequent,  appears  once  more  as  a  missionary  here;  and  it  is  in  con- 
nection with  this  visit  that  the  name  Potomack  first  occurs.  On  June  11, 
1745,  Mr.  Caven  is  appointed  to  supply  Potomack,  Opecquon  and  Bullskin 
"at  his  conveniency,"  until  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery. 

And  now  to  go  back  a  little.  The  year  1740  marks  a  period  of  new 
interest  in  the  history  of  the  church  within  our  bounds.  Before  that  time 
the  attention  of  Presbytery  and  Synod  had  been  given,  south  of  the  Poto- 
mac, to  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  But  in  December,  1740,  Mr.  Caven,  then 
at  Opecquon,  was  ordered  to  Supply  at  South  Branch  at  his  discretion; 
and  within  six  months  (May  30,  1741)  a  supplication  was  brought  in  for 
supplies  "from  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac."  This,  we  have  reason 
to  believe,  was  from  Presbyterians  in  the  Moorefield  Valley.  As  early  as 
1734  or  1735,  a  settlement  began  there  on  lands  for  which  John  and  Isaac 
Vanmeter  had  obtained  a  "warrant"  from  Governor  Gooch,  and  in  five  or 
six  years  the  settlers  had  become  so  numerous  as  to  justify  the  effort  to 
obtain  a  Christian  minister.  These  early  settlers  were  largely  of  Dutch 
origin,  though  many  of  Scotch-Irish  descent  were  mingled  with  them. 
Their  first  supplies  came  from  Donegal  Presbytery;  and  yet  very  early  in 
their  history  measures  were  taken  to  supply  them  by  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Classis  of  New  Jersey,  from  which  colony  many  of  them  came. 

From  the  year  1745  to  1759,  we  are  cut  off  from  our  most  important 
source  of  information  concerning  the  progress  of  Presbyterianism  in  this 
Lower  Valley,  by  the  loss  of  the  Second  Volume  of  the  Records  of  Donegal 
Presbytery,  covering  that  period  of  fourteen  years.  This  loss  there  is 
nothing  to  supply.  The  Records  of  the  Synods  of  Philadelphia  and  of 
New  York  contain,  it  is  true,  a  great  deal  of  information,  which  is  valuable 


22  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

as  showing  the  activity  and  enlargement  of  the  church,  but,  save  in  one  or 
two  instances,  the  minutes  are  so  general  in  their  statements  as  to  give  no 
definite  information  as  to  the  particular  places  in  Virginia  that  seek  to  re- 
ceive, or  that  obtain  supplies. 

It  was  during  this  period — perhaps,  in  some  cases,  a  little  earlier — that 
settlements  were  made,  and  churches  of  our  order  were  started  at  Falling 
Waters,  and  on  Tuscarora,  Back  Creek,  Sleepy  Creek,  "  Cape  Capon," 
and  Patterson's  Creek.  While  the  name  of  "  Tuscarora  in  Virginia  "  does 
not  appear  in  any  existing  Ecclesiastical  Records  until  April,  1760,  it  is 
the  uniform  and  undisputed  tradition,  that  one  of  the  earliest  settlements  in 
this  Valley  was  made  on  that  stream;  and  that  a  Presbyterian  congregation 
of  considerable  importance  was  established  there  as  early,  some  allege,  as 
1740.  Very  nearly  the  same  is  true  of  Falling  Waters.  Although  in  the 
Records  to  which  we  have  access  the  name  does  not  occur  until  April,  1762, 
there  is  scarcely  a  doubt  there  was  a  church  at  that  place  prior  to  1750. 
Local  tradition,  with  some  probability,  fixes  the  date  of  the  organization 
at  1745. 

Of  the  other  places  named,  no  authentic  dates  for  their  organization  for 
worship  can  be  given;  nor  can  it  be  determined  by  whose  ministry  they 
were  supplied.  But  in  the  beginning  of  the  Third  Volume  of  the  Donegal 
Records,  these  names  appear  as  of  places  with  which  the  Presbytery  was 
familiar;  and  provision  is  made  for  their  supply,  as  if  it  were  an  established 
custom. 


The  extensive  and  unhappy  Schism  of  1741,  and  which  lasted  for 
seventeen  years,  was  seriously  felt  by  the  churches  in  this  Valley,  as  well 
as  elsewhere.  Of  the  controversies  which  finally  resulted  in  the  division 
of  the  Synod,  and  which  were  attended  with  so  much  ill-feeling  and  un- 
brotherly  conduct,  it  is  not  our  purpose  here  to  treat.  Without  stating  the 
questions  at  issue,  or  attempting  to  discuss  their  merits,  it  is  sufficient  for 
the  purposes  of  this  history  to  say,  that  after  four  or  five  years  of  bitter 
contention  and  recrimination,  the  Presbyteries  of  New  Brunswick,  New 
York  and  part  of  New  Castle  withdrew  and  formed  themselves  into  a 
Synod  under  the  style  of  "The  Synod  of  New  York,"  holding  their  first 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  23 

meeting  at  Elizabethtown,  N.  J.,  in  September,  1745.  These  seceding 
Presbyteries  were  called  the  "New  Side,"  while  those  which  adhered  to 
the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  viz.,  Philadelphia,  Donegal  and  part  of  New 
Castle,  were  known  as  the  "Old  Side." 

The  Presbytery  of  Donegal  was  thoroughly  identified  with  the  Old 
Side,  and  yet  some  of  its  congregations  south  of  the  Potomac  were  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  New  Side.  This  was  especially  true  of  Opecquon  and 
Cedar  Creek.  So  far,  however,  as  we  can  learn,  nearly  all  the  other  Pres- 
byterians in  this  Valley  espoused,  and  with  no  little  warmth,  the  cause  of 
the  Old  Side.  Without  deciding  whether  their  views  of  the  questions  in 
controversy  were  right  or  wrong,  it  must  be  admitted  that  it  would  have 
contributed  more  to  their  growth  at  that  time,  if  their  sympathies  had  led 
them  the  other  way.  The  Old  Side,  while  not  weaker  at  first,  failed  to 
grow  with  the  rapidity  of  their  rivals,  and  in  a  short  time  found  them- 
selves unable  to  send  supplies  to  the  more  distant  churches  that  were  ask- 
ing for  them.  They  were  dependent  largely  for  the  increase  of  their  min- 
isters upon  emigration  from  the  old  country.  But  at  that  time  a  sudden 
check  was  given  to  this  emigration.  During  the  whole  period  of  the  divi- 
sion very  few  ministers  came  to  them  from  either  Scotland  or  Ireland;  the 
supply  from  New  England  was  almost  entirely  cut  off,  and  as  their  own 
churches  did  not  furnish  them  with  many  Licentiates  it  was  '  found  at  the 
time  of  the  reunion,  that  more  ministers  had  been  lost  by  death  and  removal 
than  had  been  gained  by  additions. 

The  New  Side,  on  the  other  hand,  had  larger  facilities  for  obtaining 
preachers,  especially  from  New  England,  and  so  were  in  a  much  better 
condition  to  look  after  the  outposts  and  new  settlements;  and  as  they  were 
less  scrupulous  about  intruding,  they  did  not  wait  for  an  invitation  from 
Presbytery  or  congregation  before  sending  their  missionaries.  Virginia,  in 
particular,  engaged  a  large  share  of  their  attentions,  and  many  of  their 
ablest  ministers  visited  this  Valley  on  missionary  tours  of  larger  or  shorter 
continuance.  While  that  Schism  lasted,  the  churches  here,  particularly 
Opecquon  and  Cedar  Creek,  enjoyed,  at  different  times,  the  services  of  such 
men  as  Drs.  John  and  Samuel  Blair,  John  Roan,  Samuel  Finley  and  the 
two  Tennents,  Gilbert  and  William,  whose  fervent  zeal  brought  them  on 
evangelistic  journeys  to  this  distant  region.  Men,  too,  less  distinguished 
than  these,  as  Rev.  Eliab  Byram,  Rev.  William  Dean  and  others,  visited 
the  Valley  and  preached  for  some  time  with  acceptance  and  success. 

Meanwhile,  the  Old  Side  did  not  relinquish  its  claim  upon  this  field. 
The  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  whose  jurisdiction  extended  over  this   Lower 


24  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

Valley,  continued,  as  far  as  circumstances  would  permit,  its  oversight  of 
the  churches  here.  But  the  growing  demand  for  increased  labor  in  the 
older  settlements,  and  the  embarrassing  scarcity  of  ministers,  prevented 
the  Presbytery  from  meeting,  in  any  adequate  measure,  the  growing  wants 
of  the  newer  fields.  And  as  it  soon  became  evident  that  the  visits  of  its 
ministers  were  not  specially  desired  in  some  of  these  churches,  they  grad- 
ually became  less  frequent,  and  before  the  division  was  healed  their  visits 
seem  almost  entirely  to  have  ceased.  With  the  loss  of  the  Presbyterial 
Records,  the  last  faint  trace  of  them  disappears  until  the  new  Volume  of 
Records  is  opened. 

The  preponderance  not  only  of  numbers,  but  of  zeal,  too,  was  un- 
doubtedly with  the  New  Side;  and  for  several  years  the  missionary  work 
done  both  in  this  Valley  and  throughout  Virginia,  was  carried  on  mainly, 
though  not  exclusively,  by  the  Synod  of  New  York  and  the  Presbyteries 
composing  it.  It  seems,  however,  that  while  their  ministers  were  zealous 
they  were  not  always  wise  in  their  zeal.  Some  of  them,  in  their  heated 
discussions  with,  or  about,  their  old  Old  Side  brethren,  had  allowed  them- 
selves to  use  language  of  the  most  unchristian  and  abusive  character.  They 
did  not  scruple  to  denounce  those  whose  views  touching  questions  in  dis- 
pute differed  from  their  own,  as  "babbling,  ignorant  priests,"  "dry,  sap- 
less unconverted  ministers,"  "the  devil's  advocates,"  "ministers  of  Satan 
and  enemies  of  all  righteousness."  And  in  their  labors  in  Virginia,  some 
of  them,  in  their  condemnation  of  the  formality  and  worldliness  then  pre- 
vailing in  the  established  Church,  were  so  intemperate  in  their  expressions 
as  to  expose  themselves  to  the  censure  of  the  civil  authorities.  Informa- 
tion was  laid  before  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  in  1745,  that  Governor 
Gooch  had  arraigned  before  a  grand  jury  at  Williamsburg  certain  Presby- 
terian preachers  who  had  visited  his  colony.  In  his  charge  to  this  jury  he 
accused  them  of  being  "false  teachers,  who  had  crept  into  his  government 
without  orders,  or  license,  or  any  testimonial  of  their  education  or  sect; 
professing  themselves  ministers  under  the  pretended  influence  of  new  light, 
extraordinary  impulse,  and  such  like  fanatical  and  enthusiastical  knowledge, 
they  were  leading  the  innocent  and  ignorant  people  into  all  kinds  of  delu- 
sions; and  in  this  frantic  and  profane  disguise  they  treat  all  other  modes 
of  worship  with  the  utmost  scorn  and  contempt,"  even  saying  of  the  Gov- 
ernor himself,  and  of  his  fellow  churchmen,  that  they  "  worshipped  the 
devil  and  were  damned;"  all  which  offences,  he  concludes,  constitute  "an 
iniquity  to  be  punished  by  the  judges." 

When  these  facts  were  brought  to  the   knowledge   of   the   Synod   of 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  25 

Philadelphia,  it  promptly  disclaimed  all  connection  with  the  parties  accused 
and  all  responsibility  for  "the  conduct  of  some  of  the  new  party  which 
had  so  highly  provoked  the  government  of  that  colony;"  and  they  "judged 
it  necessary  to  send  an  address  to  Governor  Gooch,  informing  him  of 
the  distinction  between  this  Synod  and  that  separated  party,  that  so  their 
conduct  might  not  be  imputed  to  us,  nor  provoke  that  government  to  deny 
us  the  liberties  and  favors  we  have  enjoyed  under  it."  [Minutes  of  Synod 
of  Philadelphia,  pp.  181-2.] 

While  treating  of  this  Schism,  which  produced  such  alination  and  bit- 
ter controversy,  we  should  not  overlook  the  fact,  that  it  was  during  its  con- 
tinuance, that  the  church  was  visited  with  a  revival,  the  most  remarkable, 
perhaps,  in  the  history  of  this  country.  It  swept  over  all  the  provinces 
from  Massachusetts  to  Georgia,  and  lasted  through  many  years.  The  inter- 
est awakened  everywhere  was  most  intense.  It  reached  all  classes  and 
conditions  of  people,  and  was  confined  to  no  church.  Numbers  of  all 
denominations,  and  many  who  had  no  connection  with  any,  were  found 
among  the  penitent  inquirers.  And  yet,  outside  of  New  England,  it  was 
in  Presbyterian  churches  that  the  work  prevailed  most  extensively;  and 
Presbyterian  preachers  were  the  most  active  in  promoting  it. 

But  while  this  "  Great  Awakening  "  was  so  extended  in  its  sweep,  and 
so  profound  in  its  operations,  and  (as  all  agree)  so  gracious  in  many  of  its 
results,  it  is  to  be  lamented  that  in  many,  if  not  in  most,  places  it  was 
attended  with  circumstances  which  exposed  it  to  serious  suspicion  in  the 
judgment  of  not  a  few  of  the  wise  and  good  of  that  time  ;  and  which  now, 
in  the  historical  review  of  the  facts,  will  admit  of  no  excuse.  It  was  marred 
almost  everywhere,  by  scenes  of  the  most  extravagant  excitement.  Loud 
outcries,  and  faintings,  and  violent  and  unseemly  bodily  agitations,  and  al- 
most every  possible  form  in  which  religious  fanaticism  can  express  itself, 
were  indulged  in;  and  with  the  approval  of  many  of  the  eminent  ministers 
by  whom  the  meetings  were  conducted.  It  must  be  said,  however,  that 
very  many  of  these  friends  and  promoters  of  the  Revival,  who,  during  its 
early  stages,  fell,  like  Edwards,  into  the  error  of  countenancing  its  delusions, 
afterwards  severely  condemned  them,  as  Edwards  himself  did. 

We  leam  from  the  testimony  of  Samuel  Davies  that  the  Revival  was 
powerfully  felt  in  Virginia;  and  that  our  churches  in  this  Lower  Valley 
were  in  an  especial  manner  brought  under  its  influence  and  shared  in  its 
blessings  ;  while  to  a  large  extent  they  were  exempt  from  its  errors  and  its 
pernicious  consequences.  Dr.  Hodge  writes  that  "in  no  part  of  our  coun- 
try was  the  revival  more  interesting,  and  in  very  few  was  it  so  pure  as  in 
Virginia." 


26  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

But  giving  our  attention  now  to  matters  that  more  immediately  con- 
cern us,  it  will  be  observed  that  until  1754  the  churches  within  our  Presby- 
terial  limits  were  dependent  for  public  worship  upon  such  occasional  sup- 
plies as  they  could  obtain.  In  not  a  single  instance  had  the  pastoral  rela- 
tion been  constituted,  and  so  far  as  the  Records  inform  us  the  supplies 
were  in  no  case  of  very  long  continuance.  Many  attempts  were  made  to 
secure  the  settlement  of  a  minister  at  Opecquon  and  Cedar  Creek,  and  also 
at  Bullskin,  but  without  success. 

In  the  year  1754,  however,  Rev.  John  Hoge  was  called  to  the  Opec- 
quon field  and  remained  there  as  pastor  for  eighteen  years.  Mr.  Hoge, 
though  not  a  resident  of  Virginia,  until  he  took  charge  of  the  Opecquon 
Church,  was  yet  closely  related  to  that  congregation  by  family  ties.  He 
was  the  son  of  John  Hoge,  who  was  the  eldest  son  of  William  Hoge,  who, 
in  1735,  settled  on  Upper  Opecquon  and  gave  the  land  on  which  the  meet- 
ing house  is  built.  John  Hoge,  sr.,  was  the  only  one  of  his  father's  im- 
mediate children  who  failed  to  remove  with  him  to  Virginia.  He  settled 
in  Pennsylvania  at  a  place  afterwards  called  Hogetown,  a  few  miles  distant 
from  Harrisburg,  and  where  some  of  his  descendants  are  still  found.  In 
all  the  old  records  the  name  is  spelled  "Hogg"  or  "Hogge;"  but  in  using 
the  name  here  we  will  conform  to  the  modern  spelling  "Hoge,"  which  the 
family  seems  now  generally  to  prefer. 

The  Rev.  John  Hoge,  jr.,  was  probably  born  at  South  Amboy,  N. 
J.,  but  the  date  of  his  birth  is  not  known.  He  was  graduated  from  Nassau 
Hall  in  1749,  and  was  taken  under  the  care  of  New  Castle  Presbytery  (New 
Side)  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry.  After  some  time  his  Presbytery 
discouraged  him  from  entering  on  his  trials  for  licensure,  "  lest  his  genius 
should  not  be  fit  for  the  ministry."  Persevering  in  his  purpose,  however, 
he  stood  his  trials,  and  was  licensed  October  10,  1753.  For  a  few  months 
after  licensure  he  preached  in  Pennsylvania,  and  then  came  to  Virginia  and 
began  his  long  ministry  in  Frederick  County.  In  1755  he  was  ordained 
and  "settled"  over  Opecquon  and  Cedar  Creek.  It  would  be  interesting  to 
know  just  how  he  was  settled.  In  that  early  day  there  seems  to  have  been 
no  rigid  observance  of  ecclesiastical  forms.  The  organization  of  a  church 
was  a  rather  loose  and  informal  act,  and  the  installation  of  a  pastor  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  attended  with  much  ceremony.  One  of  the  Tennents 
went  through  the  form  of  installing  himself. 

At  the  time  of  Mr.  Hoge's  settlement,  Opecquon  was  the  most  impor- 
tant church  in  the  Valley,  and  remained  so  for  many  years.  For  a  number 
of  years  it  was  the  only  place  of   public  worship   within   a   large   district. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  27 

The  nearest  Episcopal  Church  was  at  Bunker  Hill.  There  was  probably 
no  church  of  any  faith  in  Winchester  until  1753,  when  a  Lutheran  Church 
was  organized.  George  Washington,  while  in  command  at  Fort  Loudoun, 
often  rode  out  to  Opecquon  to  worship. 

Mr.  Hoge's  ministry  was  not  without  many  discouragements.  The 
churches  grew  in  numbers,  but  the  condition  of  things  around  them  was 
unsettled  and  often  alarming.  His  meagre  salary  was  poorly  paid,  and  on 
this  ground  he  began,  within  six  years  of  his  settlement,  to  plead  for  re- 
lease from  his  charge.  He  was  promised  £70  from  the  entire  field,  and 
yet  in  a  few  years  his  churches  were  in  arrears  to  him  more  than  a  year's 
salary.  Notwithstanding  earnest  efforts  to  remedy  this  evil,  it  continued. 
In  1759  his  Presbyterial  relations  were  transferred  to  Donegal.  The  next 
year  (1760)  Tuscarora  was  added  to  his  charge.  And  here  the  Records 
become  somewhat  confused.  It  looks  as  if  he  had  been  at  least  tempo- 
rarily released  from  his  charge,  for  on  April  6,  1760,  Mr.  Hoge  is  ordered 
by  his  Presbytery  to  "supply  Tuscarora,  Opecquon  and  Back;  Creek  three 
Sabbaths  at  his  discretion."  At  the  same  meeting  Mr.  Hoge  requests  the 
Presbytery  to  "send  some  member  to  assist  him  in  some  congregational 
affairs,"  and  Mr.  Duff ield  is  sent  to  his  assistance.  In  October  of  that 
year  supplies  are  asked  for  Opecquon,  Back  Creek  and  Tuscarora,  and 
in  reply,  Mr.  Hoge  is  ordered  to  "supply  three  Sabbaths  at  adjacent  va- 
cancies." The  next  spring,  1761,  supplications  are  made  to  Presbytery 
from  Opecquon  and  other  places,  and  he  is  appointed  to  supply  at  discre- 
tion. 

Whatever  may  be  the  explanation  of  these  rather  confusing  facts,  Mr. 
Hoge,  November  11,  1761,  asked  leave  of  Presbytery  to  resign  his  charge, 
and  Presbytery  ordered  Mr.  Roan  to  write  to  these  congregations  touching 
the  salary  in  arrears.  And  now  it  appears  that  he  was  still  in  legal  charge 
of  the  churches  of  Opecquon  and  Cedar  Creek,  for  these  churches,  in  con- 
sequence of  Mr.  Roan's  letter,  asked  for  the  continuance  of  Mr.  Hoge  as 
their  pastor,  and  promised  to  pay  him  what  was  due.  He  remained  in  his 
field.  But  in  October,  1764,  he  complained  to  Presbytery  that  he  would 
have  to  resign  on  account  of  the  non-payment  of  salary,  and  Presbytery 
ordered  that  unless  the  churches  reported  payment  to  its  next  meeting  it 
would  release  Mr.  Hoge.  The  churches  must  have  made  a  satisfactory  re- 
port, as  he  continued  his  pastoral  labors  for  several  years  without  further 
complaint.  In  October,  1767,  Presbytery  assigned  all  its  vacancies  in  Vir- 
ginia to  him.  The  next  year  he  was  accused  before  Presbytery  by  Joseph 
Colvil,  a  member  of  his  church,  for  having  fraudulently  obtained   a  judg- 


28  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

ment  in  Lord  Fairfax's  office  for  a  tract  of  land,  but  upon  a  full  hearing  of 
the  case  he  was  acquitted  of  all  charges.  In  June,  1771,  the  old  trouble 
about  the  salary  again  came  up.  The  churches  begged  to  retain  their  pas- 
tor; but  the  Presbytery,  wearied  with  their  delinquency,  sternly  ordered 
that  the  matter  be  satisfactorily  arranged  by  the  next  meeting,  or  they 
should  no  longer  have  the  services  of  Mr.  Hoge.  At  the  next  meeting, 
October,  1771,  the  arrearages  had  not  been  paid;  but  on  representation  of 
the  commissioners  from  Cedar  Creek  and  Opecquon,  the  Presbytery  con- 
sented to  defer  the  removal  of  Mr.  Hoge;  but  when  it  next  met  (April, 
1772 )  he  was  finally  released  from  his  pastoral  charge  on  account  of  non- 
payment of  salary. 

Mr.  Hoge  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  having  been  the  first  pastor  within 
our  Presbyterial  bounds.  As  such,  we  have  thought  him  entitled  to  the 
extended  notice  here  given  him.  After  his  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved 
he  continued  for  a  few  years  to  reside  in  Frederick  County,  and  served  as 
supply  to  various  churches  in  the  Valley.  When  he  removed  to  Pennsyl- 
vania he  was  appointed  in  1775  to  serve  the  Paxton  and  Derry  churches, 
or  rather  those  portions  of  these  churches  which,  on  account  of  their  New 
Side  sympathies,  had  separated  themselves  from  the  mother  churches. 
Rev.  John  Elder,  from  whose  churches  these  had  seceded,  and  who  was 
a  rigid  Old  Side  man,  still  claimed  the  entire  field,  and  resented  this 
encroachment  on  his  rights.  It  is  not  known  whether  Mr.  Hoge  had 
been  guilty  of  any  indiscretion  in  fulfilling  the  appointment  of  Presbytery; 
but  Mr.  Elder  did  not  approve  of  his  presence  in  his  territory,  and  at  the 
next  meeting  of  Presbytery  complained  of  having  been  "annoyed  by  the 
rooting  around  of  a  Hog  that  had  been  turned  into  the  field." 

When  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  was  divided,  in  1786,  into  the  Pres- 
byteries of  Carlisle  and  Baltimore,  the  Presbyterial  relations  of  Mr.  Hoge 
were  thrown  with  Carlisle.  And  when  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon  was 
erected  out  of  Carlisle,  April,  1795,  he,  as  one  of  the  oldest  members  of 
the  new  Presbytery,  was  appointed  to  preach  the  opening  sermon  and  to 
preside  at  the  organization,  and  was  chosen  its  first  moderator.  Of  his 
labors  after  this  we  have  no  definite  account.  He  died  February  11,  1807. 
It  is  said  of  him  that  he  "was  always  highly  esteemed  as  a  minister  and 
had  an  unquestioned  character  for  piety. ' '  Through  his  whole  life  he  was 
largely  engaged  in  evangelistic  work,  for  which  he  seems  to  have  been 
peculiarly  adapted.  His  grandchildren  still  reside  at  Watsontown,  North- 
umberland County,  Pa. 

Of  the  other  churches  within  our  Presbyterial  bounds,  the  authentic 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  29 

facts  now  ascertainable,  are  too  few  and  vague  to  enable  us  to  give  a  satis- 
f actor  history  of  any  one  of  them  prior  to  about  1770.  That  several  churches 
had  already  been  formed  in  this  territory,  and  that  some  of  them  had 
attained  a  considerable  importance,  are  well-known  facts;  but  none  of  them 
had  yet  been  able  to  secure  a  pastor,  and  few  of  them  could  obtain  supplies 
of  any  permanence.  Potomac,  Bullskin,  Tuscarora,  Falling  Water,  South 
Branch,  Capon,  and  others  had  been  in  existence  for  a  considerable  time, 
and  were  continually  sending  their  "supplications"  to  Presbytery  and 
Synod;  and  in  the  bodies  appealed  to,  commendable  interest  and  zeal  had 
been  manifested  in  furnishing  them  with  supplies;  but,  so  far  as  the  Records 
inform  us,  not  one  of  them  had  reached  that  numerical  or  financial  strength 
that  could  secure  them  the  services  of  a  settled  minister.  It  seems  to  be  true, 
that  not  only  was  Mr.  Hoge  the  first  pastor  within  our  bounds,  but  that  up 
to  the  period  of  his  settlement  there  was  no  minister  of  our  faith  and  order 
whose  residence  was  here.  As  we  have  seen,  our  people  were  dependent 
for  preaching  not  merely,  but  for  all  ministerial  services,  as  marriages,  bap- 
tisms, funerals,  etc.,  upon  such  "supplies"  as  were  sent  them,  or  upon 
the  occasional  visits  of  those  ministers  who  were  passing  through  on  their 
evangelistic  tours.  In  those  days  the  date  of  a  marriage  was  fixed  ordi- 
narily, not  by  the  wishes  or  convenience  of  the  parties  engaged,  but  by 
the  expected  coming  of  a  "supply,"  or  the  providential  arrival  of  an  evan- 
gelist. And  to  this  difficulty  of  obtaining  ministerial  service  when  needed 
may  be  traced  that  custom  which  prevails  here  still,  to  some  extent,  of 
having  the  funeral  sermon  preached  at  some  convenient  day  subsequent  to 
— and  sometimes  long  subsequent  to— the  burial  of  the  deceased. 

But  notwithstanding  their  limited  ability  and  the  distance  to  be  trav- 
eled, the  Presbyteries  were  remarkably  faithful  in  furnishing  these  people 
with  Gospel  ordinances.  Besides  the  visits  made  by  appointment  of  Synod 
and  by  ministers  from  New  Castle  and  other  Presbyteries,  the  Presbytery 
of  Donegal,  between  1735  and  1745,  made  large  provision  for  the  destitu- 
tion here.  As  we  have  already  seen,  Rev.  Samuel  Gelston,  who  visited 
Opecquon  in  the  summer  of  1736,  was  the  first  one  sent.  The  next  year 
Rev.  James  Anderson  and  Rev.  William  Bertram  came  on  a  general  mis- 
sion, their  services  to  be  given  without  limitation  of  time  and  wherever  oc- 
casion for  them  was  found.  In  the  spring  of  1740,  Rev.  Samuel  Caven 
visited  Bullskin  and  Opecquon,  and  the  next  winter  preached  on  the 
South  Branch  of  the  Potomac.  Five  years  later  he  was  again  sent  to  Vir- 
ginia, and  supplied  Potomack  in  Virginia,  Opecquon  and  Bullskin.  In  the 
fall  of  1740  Mr.  Lynn  visited  these  churches  and  received  a  call  to  Opec- 


30  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

quon;  but  because  of  some  unfavorable  rumors  he  was  not  settled  there. 
In  1741,  Rev.  Alexander  McDowell  was  ordained  sine  titulo,  and  was  sent  to 
"itinerate  sine  tempore  in  Virginia."  In  1742,  Rev.  John  Hindman  was  sent 
here  as  a  missionary,  and  the  next  year  we  find  him  supplying  Opecquon. 

From  1745,  through  the  loss  of  the  Presbyterial  Records,  a  gap 
of  fourteen  years  occurs,  during  which  we  have  but  little  knowledge  of 
the  evangelistic  work  of  Donegal.  We  only  know  that  it  continued  to 
send  supplies  to  these  congregations  as  it  had  opportunity;  while  to  some 
of  them  special  attention  was  given  by  the  New  Side  Synod  of  New  York, 
whose  missionaries  found  a  heartier  welcome  among  them. 

But  when  we  have  access  again  to  the  Records  of  Donegal,  we  find, 
not  only  that  the  missionary  zeal  of  that  Presbytery  had  not  abated,  but 
that  it  had  entered  with  renewed  activity  upon  the  supply  of  the  territory 
south  of  the  Potomac.  New  congregations  had  been  formed  in  this  Lower 
Valley,  and  also  along  the  waters  of  Back  Creek,  Capon  and  the  South 
Branch.  In  the  next  ten  years  their  missionaries  had  crossed  to  the  east 
of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  churches  of  our  faith  and  order  were  beginning  to 
spring  up  at  numerous  points  between  the  Potomac  and  the  Rappahannock, 
and  many  of  these  continued  to  grow  in  strength  and  importance  under  the 
fostering  of  those  zealous  men,  who,  at  great  personal  cost  and  sacrifice, 
supplied  them  with  the  ministrations  of  the  Word. 

The  ministers  thus  engaged  in  the  planting  and  training  of  these 
churches,  prior  to  the  organization  of  our  Presbytery  in  1794,  were  about 
fifty  in  number,  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  of  whom  were  settled  here  as 
pastors.  Their  work  covered  a  period  of  perhaps  seventy -five  years.  The 
names  of  nearly  all  of  them  could  be  given,  but  it  would  probably  be  with- 
out interest  to  record  them  here,  as  so  few  of  them  are  known  to  us   now. 

A  matter  of  more  interest  is  the  date  and  the  chronological  order  of 
the  organization  of  these  churches.  It  would  be  difficult,  however,  if  not 
impossible,  to  give  these  dates  with  any  accuracy,  as  the  data  by  which 
we  would  have  to  be  guided  are  not  altogether  reliable.  When  "the  peo- 
ple of  Potomoke,  in  Virginia,"  were  "put  in  church  order"  in  1720,  the 
Synod,  soon  after,  gave  the  oversight  of  "the  people  of  Virginia"  to  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Castle.  But  unfortunately  the  Records  of  that  Pres- 
bytery, which  would  throw  light  on  the  early  history  of  many  of  our 
churches  are  lost.  When  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  was  erected  in  1732 
nothing  was  said  as  to  its  relations  to  the  new  settlements  south  of  the 
Potomac,  and  three  years  or  more  elapsed  before  any  attention  was  given 
to  them.     In  the  meantime  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  Presbytery 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  31 

of  New  Castle  was  not  neglecting  the  people  whose  religious  interests  the 
Synod  had  committed  to  its  care.  Besides  supplying  "the  people  of  Po- 
tomoke,"  it  would  give  needed  attention  to  adjacent  settlements.  And  it 
seems  highly  probable  that  her  missionaries  had  visited  other  points  in  this 
Lower  Valley  before  this  region  came  under  the  oversight  of  Donegal. 
There  is  certainly  something  significant  in  the  way  in  which  such  places  as 
Bullskin,  Back  Creek,  Tuscarora  and  Falling  Waters  are  introduced  in  the 
Records  of  Donegal  as  compared,  e.  g.,  with  the  first  appearance  of  Opec- 
quon.  The  minute  for  May,  1736,  is  "Mr.  Gelston  is  ordered  to  supply 
the  new  inhabitants  near  Opekan  in  Virginia,"  showing  on  the  face  of  the 
minute  that  this  is  the  first  minister  sent  there.  Whereas  in  April,  1740, 
when  Bullskin  is  first  named,  nothing  is  said  to  designate  the  locality,  but 
it  is  mentioned  as  a  place  with  which  Presbytery  is  already  acquainted  and 
had  probably  supplied  before.  The  same  is  true  of  Tuscarora,  Back  Creek 
and  Falling  Waters.  When  these  names  appear  in  the  Third  Volume  of 
Donegal  Records,  they  appear  evidently  as  places  which  the  Presbytery 
was  accustomed  to  supply.  We  cannot  affirm  it  as  a  fact,  but  the  conjec- 
ture should  not  be  too  hastily  dismissed  as  improbable,  that  Bullskin  may 
be  an  older  settlement  even  than  Opecquon.  For  if,  as  seems  most  rea- 
sonable, the  immigrants  to  this  Valley  first  settled  near  the  Potomac,  on 
the  rich  and  inviting  lands  of  Berkeley  and  Jefferson,  and  then  gradually, 
as  these  lands  were  taken  up,  made  their  way  southward,  it  is  not  at  all  im- 
probable that  there  was  a  settlement  on  the  waters  of  the  Bullskin,  before 
Hite  had  come  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Opecquon. 

But  while  we  are  not  able  to  give,  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  the 
dates  of  the  organization  of  our  several  churches,  we  can,  with  tolerable 
accuracy,  fix  the  time  when  most  of  them  first  became  places  of  worship 
for  Presbyterian  congregations.  In  doing  this  we  are  guided  mainly  by  the 
records  of  the  old  Synods,  and  of  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal. 


32  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 


I  POTOMAC. 

Beyond  all  question,  the  place  at  which  Presbyterian  worship  was  first 
held  within  our  original  Presbyterial  bounds,  was  at  "  Potomoke  in  Virginia;" 
for  even  should  our  contentions  be  disproved,  which  locates  that  church 
west  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  it  must  still  have  been  within  the  territory  assigned 
to  Winchester  Presbytery  at  its  organization  in  1794.  That  territory 
embraced  the  entire  Northern  Neck  of  Virginia.  But  if,  as  we  are  almost 
compelled  to  believe,  the  "Potomoke  in  Virginia"  of  the  Synodical  Records 
of  1719,  et  seq.,  is  the  "  Potomack  in  Virginia"  of  the  Donegal  Records 
of  a  later  date,  then  unquestionably  our  earliest  Presbyterian  organization 
was  at,  or  near  Shepherdstown,  now  in  West  Virginia.  "  The  people  "  of 
that  place  were  "  put  in  church  order  "  sometime  before  September,  1720, 
and  were  served  by  supplies  from  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  until  Septem- 
ber, 1724,  when  the  care  of  these  people  was  committed  to  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Castle.  But  the  loss  of  the  Records  of  that  Presbytery  leaves  us 
completely  in  the  dark  as  to  the  history  of  that  church  for  a  period  of  nearly 
twenty  years.  In  the  meantime  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  was  erected 
( 1732),  which  gradually  extended  its  jurisdiction  south  of  the  Potomac; 
and  in  the  last  year  of  the  period  covered  by  the  First  Volume  of  its  Records, 
a  place  called  "Potomack  in  Virginia"  appears,  asking  for  supplies. 
This  was  in  1745.  But  the  Second  Volume  of  its  Records,  covering  the  next 
fourteen  years,  is  lost,  leaving  us  again  in  the  dark.  With  the  Third  Vol- 
ume, however,  "  Potomack  in  Virginia  "  reappears.  Under  date  of  August 
31,  1762,  Mr.  McGan  (a  name  I  find  no  where  else)  is  "ordered to  supply 
Tuscarora  and  Potomack  in  Virginia  the  first  two  Sabbaths  in  March." 
After  that  date  this  name  silently  drops  from  these  Records.  But  why 
should  it  be  dropped  ?  In  the  absence  of  all  positive  evidence,  we,  of 
course,  can  give  no  certain  answer  to  this  question.  But  in  view  of  what 
is  known  to  us,  the  conjecture  is  at  least  reasonable,  that  the  church  had 
obtained  a  permanent  supply,  and  for  several  subsequent  years  had  no 
occasion  to  ask  help  from  Presbytery.  Certainly  a  church  with  such  a 
history  would  not  be  likely  to  let  itself  die.  There  was  everything  in  its 
situation  to  favor  its  growth.  There  is,  however,  an  interesting  fact  that 
may  possibly  throw  light  upon  the  question.  A  few  years  after  the  name 
"Potomack"  disappears,  the  names  of  Shepherdstown  (  October,  1768 )  and 
Elk  Branch  (April  11,  1769)  appear  for  the  first  time,  but  as  places  of 
unusual  importance.     One  of  them,  Elk  Branch,  is  soon  strong  enough  to 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  33 

call  and  settle  Rev.  John  McKnight  as  its  pastor  ;  while  the  other,  Shep- 
herdstown,  seems  able  to  have  procured  its  own  supplies,  until  the  Rev. 
Moses  Hoge  was  obtained  as  its  pastor.  There  is  convincing  evidence  that 
Elk  Branch  had  been  a  place  of  worship  for  some  time  before  its  name  is 
mentioned  in  the  Presbyterial  Records.  An  old  log  church  which  stood  in 
the  Presbyterian  graveyard  near  Duffields,  and  which  had  fallen  into  decay 
in  1792,  must  have  been  erected  and  used  much  earlier  than  1769.  A  rea- 
sonable explanation,  which  meets  all  the  known  conditions  of  the  case,  is 
that  Potomac  Church,  planted  by  Daniel  McGillin  1720,  continued  to  flour- 
ish under  the  fostering  care,  first  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  and 
then  of  Donegal,  until  it  became  advisable  to  divide  it,  which  was  done  by 
effecting  a  separate  organization  at  Elk  Branch,  which  was  already  one  of 
its  preaching  stations,  and  where  a  house  of  worship  already  existed.  In 
this  division,  which,  if  our  theory  is  tenable,  took  place  at  some  time 
between  1763  and  1767,  the  old  name,  "  Potomac,"  was  dropped,  and  the 
name  "  Shepherdstown,"  by  which  the  village  was  now  called,  was  given 
it.     Of  these  churches  we  will  speak  hereafter,  under  their  present  names. 


#fe 


II  OPECQUON. a 

The  church  whose  name  appears  next  in  the  Records  is  ' '  The  Old 
Opecquon."  The  history  of  this  church,  so  far  as  is  known,  down  to  1772, 
when  the  pastoral  relation  of  Rev.  John  Hoge  was  dissolved,  has  already 
been  given  with  considerable  fullness  (pp.  18  to  28). 

For  the  nine  years  which  followed  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Hoge,  and 
which  covered  the  exciting  period  before  and  during  the  Revolutionary 
War,  the  church  was  served  by  supplies  appointed  by  Presbytery,  or  ob- 
tained from  the  casual  visits  of  evangelists.  Notwithstanding  its  diffi- 
culty in  meeting  its  pecuniary  obligations  to  their  late  pastor,  no  sooner 
had  the  church  become  vacant  than  great  earnestness  was  displayed  in 

a  In  writing  the  name  of  this  church,  I  have  followed,  throughout  this  volume,  the  spelling  which 
received  the  final  approval  of  Dr.  Foote.  In  the  first  volume  of  his  "Sketches  of  Virginia,"  he  wrote  the 
name  "Opeckon  ;"  but  in  his  second  volume,  six  years  later,  he  wrote  it  invariably  "Opecquon."  Dr. 
Foote  is  the  highest  authority  as  to  the  proper  spelling  of  this  historic  name,  the  orthography  of  which,  in 
Ecclesiastical  annals,  is  so  varied. 


34  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

securing  supplies  for  the  pulpit.  Supplications  were  sent  to  Presbytery  at 
every  meeting.  Mr.  Hoge,  who  retained  his  residence  in  Frederick  County 
for  several  years,  and  of  whom  his  old  parishioners  were  very  fond,  seems 
still  to  have  been  their  main  reliance  for  preaching.  He  was  the  one  first 
appointed  by  Presbytery  when  the  vacancy  occurred,  and  almost  the  only 
one  to  supply  their  pulpit  for  the  next  three  years,  after  which  his  name  no 
longer  appears  in  the  minutes  in  connection  with  the  church.  But  Mr. 
Vance,  pastor  of  Tuscarora;  Mr.  McKnight,  pastor  of  Elk  Branch,  and  Mr. 
Thompson,  of  Kittocktin;  with  Messrs.  Slemmons,  Craighead,  Balch,  Linn 
and  others  from  north  of  the  Potomac,  were  sent  to  them,  and  some  of 
them  were  sent  quite  frequently. 

Of  the  evangelists  who  visited  them,  we  have  very  little  information. 
There  is,  however,  one  notable  exception,  that  of  Rev.  Philip  V.  Fithian, 
a  native  of  New  Jersey  and  graduate  of  Princeton  in  1772.  He  was  a  young 
man  of  unusual  gifts,  who  died  three  years  after  his  entrance  into  the  min- 
istry. While  a  student  of  theology,  he  became  tutor  in  the  family  of  Coun- 
cillor Robert  Carter,  of  "  Nomini  Hall,  "  Westmoreland  County,  Va.  He 
had  a  wonderfully  clear  and  accurate  insight  into  human  character,  and 
made  good  use  of  his  opportunity  in  portraying  what  came  under  his  obser- 
vation. His  letters,  written  during  the  year  of  his  residence  at  "Nomini 
Hall,"  have  recently  been  published,  and  give  one  of  the  most  instructive 
and  attractive  pictures  of  domestic  and  social  life  in  Virginia  at  that  period 
anywhere  to  be  found.  After  his  licensure  in  1774,  he,  and  Rev.  Andrew 
Hunter,  whose  relatives  lived  in  this  Valley,  were  commissioned  by  the 
Synod  to  visit  some  of  the  frontier  missionary  fields.  His  diary  of  that 
journey  contains  many  interesting  facts  about  the  churches  he  visited,  and 
furnishes  some  racy  reading  about  the  people  of  that  day.  Some  extracts 
from  this  diary  will  be  given  in  connection  with  the  places  to  which  they 
relate.  His  visit  to  this  Valley  was  made  in  the  spring  and  summer  of 
1775.  The  War  of  the  Revolution  was  then  impending,  and  he  found  the 
whole  country  active  with  excitement  and  preparation.  Of  his  visit  to 
Opecquon  he  writes: 

"Sunday,  May  28.  Opickon  Church.  A  large  and  genteel  society, 
mostly  Irish.  I  preached  two  sermons;  the  people  very  attentive."  x  x 
He  seems  to  have  been  the  guest  of  Mr.  Glass,  of  whom  he  writes: 

"  May  31.  Mr.  Glass  was  blessed  while  he  was  filling  up  his  family, 
so  far  as  to  have  eight  daughters  in  continual  succession  and  but  three 
sons.  I  visited  a  brother  of  his  a  mile  off  at  the  head  of  Opickon  Creek, 
a  solid,  lusty  farmer,     x     x     Several  visits  we  made  today,  among  others 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  35 

to  one  Colville.  He  is  clerk  for  the  Society,  raises  the  tune  and  in  the 
primitive  genuine  Presbyterian  whine  and  roll,  begins  the  first  note  of  the 
music  with  a  deep  strained  gutteral  from  the  last  word  of  the  reading,  with- 
out any  intermissions.  This,  however,  in  these  societies  is  universal.  I 
am  here  under  the  necessity  of  close  study,  as  the  people  do  not  allow  of 
reading  sermons. 

"  Sunday,  June  11.  [Opecquon.]  A  numerous  assembly.  Mr.  Hoge 
present.  He  is  a  lusty,  well-made  man.  Capt.  Holmes  introduced  me  to 
him,  and  he  received  me  kindly.  Invited  me  to  the  session  house,  and 
home  with  him  after  worship.  I  proposed  and  strongly  urged  him  to 
preach  at  least  once,  but  he  wholly  declined  it.  Several  store-keepers  and 
people  of  note  were  out  from  Winchester,  many  members  of  the  English 
Church,  and  all  gave  good  attention.  Sometimes,  at  particular  sentences, 
I  could  observe  every  eye  to  be  fixed,  and  the  whole  house  in  silence. 
Then  when  the  sentiments  cooled,  one  would  cough,  another  would  ogle 
some  woman,  a  third  would  take  snuff,  etc.  After  sermon  I  rode  home 
with  Mr.  Hoge.  He  is  remarkably  chatty,  and  in  some  cases  facetious, 
has  the  reputation,  I  believe,  justly,  of  a  sound,  well  meaning  man.  I 
grieve  for  his  present  state ;  he  has  a  large  family,  no  way  of  supporting  it, 
has  been  dismissed  from  this  Society  near  three  years.  He  is  anxious  of 
being  re-instated,  and  is  jealous  of  my  having  an  intention  to  supplant  him. 

"  Monday,  Juns  12.  The  opinion  of  his  politicks  is  blank.  He  rode 
with  me  to  Mr.  Glass'.  Mr.  Glass  gave  me  for  my  sermons  five  dollars 
and  many  thanks.  He  proposed  I  should  stay  with  them  a  year  on  trial, 
but  I  objected  on  Mr.  Hoge's  case." 

For  a  church,  however,  as  large  and  vigorous  as  Opecquon  had  become, 
it  would  not  do  to  be  dependent  on  the  precarious  services  of  Presbyterial 
supplies,  or  of  traveling  evangelists.  A  pastor  became  a  necessity,  and 
many  calls  were  made.  Among  them,  one  was  sent,  April  14,  1774,  to  the 
Rev.  James  Waddel,  "  The  Blind  Preacher"  of  the  Bristish  Spy,  then  liv- 
ing in  Lancaster  County,  Va.,  but  beginning  to  feel  unsettled,  because  of 
the  ill  effect  of  that  climate  upon  his  health.  This  call  was  declined.  After 
several  other  unsuccessful  efforts,  a  call  was  made  in  October,  1781,  for 
Rev.  John  Montgomery,  and  accepted.  In  this  call,  as  we  might  expect, 
Cedar  Creek  united;  but  it  is  interesting  now  to  find  the  name  of  Winchester 
associated  with  these  old  churches  in  their  present  call. 

The  Rev.  John  Montgomery,  to  whom  this  call  was  given,  was  a  native 
of  Augusta  County,  Va.,  and  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  His  parents  were 
prominently  identified  with  the  New  Providence  Church.     He  prepared  for 


36  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

college  in  a  school  which  his  father  helped  to  found,  and  was  graduated  at 
Princeton  in  1775.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  became,  by  appointment  of 
Presbytery,  the  assistant  of  Rev.  William  Graham  in  that  famous  academy 
which  has  now  grown  into  Washington  &  Lee  University.  He  was  received 
by  Hanover  Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  in  1777;  but  con- 
tinued to  teach  while  pursuing  his  theological  studies  under  Dr.  Graham. 
After  his  licensure,  October  28,  1778,  he  devoted  himself  to  the  ministry, 
and  was  ordained  by  Hanover  Presbytery  April  27,  1780.  The  next  year 
( 1781 )  he  was  settled  over  Opecquon,  Cedar  Greek  and  Winchester, where 
he  continued  to  minister,  greatly  beloved  by  his  people  and  much  blessed 
in  his  work,  until  1789,  when,  much  to  the  regret  of  his  congregation,  he 
resigned  his  charge  and  moved  to  land  that  he  had  inherited  on  the  Big 
Calf  Pasture  River,  in  the  western  part  of  Augusta  County,  where  he 
lived  the  remainder  of  his  life  as  pastor  of  Lebanon  and  Rocky  Spring 
churches.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  life  his  increasing  bodily  infirmities 
greatly  interrupted  his  ministry.  He  married  Agnes  Hughart,  and  was  the 
father  of  eleven  children — "  about  the  canonical  number  in  that  day."  He 
died  in  1818,  and  was  buried  at  the  Rocky  Spring  Church.  His  numerous 
descendants  to  the  fourth  generation  remain  staunch  Presbyterians,  and 
many  of  them  have  been,  or  are,  office  bearers  in  the  church. 

With  the  call  of  Mr.  Montgomery,  it  is  important  to  observe  that  the 
names  of  the  churches  calling  him  disappear  from  the  minutes  of  Donegal 
Presbytery.  The  exact  facts  which  explain  this  disappearance  are  not  dis- 
tinctly known.  In  May,  1755,  the  Synod  of  New  York  (  New  Side)  erect- 
ed the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  with  boundaries  not  very  clearly  defined, 
but  extending  westward  across  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  providing  "that  any  of 
their  members  settling  to  the  southward  or  westward  of  Mr.  Hoge's  con- 
gregation shall  have  liberty  to  join  said  Presbytery."  Mr.  Montgomery, 
when  called  to  these  churches  in  Frederick  County  in  1781,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Hanover  Presbytery;  but  instead  of  having  his  membership  trans- 
ferred to  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  the  churches  calling  him — in  some 
manner  and  at  some  time,  of  which  we  have  no  record — had  their  Presby- 
terial  relations  transferred  to  Hanover.  When  the  Presbytery  of  Lexing- 
ton was  erected,  May,  1786,  it  was  ordered  that  it  be  bounded  on  the 
north  by  the  southern  boundary  of  Carlisle  Presbytery,  which  was  formed 
at  the  same  time  by  the  division  of  Donegal.  That  southern  boundary, 
however,  was  not  defined  ;  nor  the  churches  named  that  were  to  be  em- 
braced in  Lexington  Presbytery;  but  Moses  Hoge,  pastor  of  "Concrete," 
on  the   South   Branch,  and   John   Montgomery,  pastor   of   Winchester, 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  37 

Opequon  and  Cedar  Creek,  are  especially  named  as  members.  And  when 
a  successor  to  Mr.  Montgomery  was  obtained  he  was  dismissed  from  Han- 
over to  Lexington  Presbytery,  which  then  asserted  an  undisputed  claim  to 
these  churches. 

The  removal  of  Mr.  Montgomery  from  this  charge  left  it  vacant  for 
but  a  short  time,  as  a  successor  was  soon  secured  in  the  person  of  the 
Rev.  Nash  Legrand. 

Mr.  Legrand's  ancestors  were  Huguenots,  who  came  to  Virginia  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  He  was  a  native  of  Prince  Edward 
County  and  a  graduate  of  Hampden  Sidney  College  in  1788,  under  the 
presidency  of  Rev.  John  Blair  Smith.  He  had  entered  college  to  prepare 
for  the  medical  profession,  but  was  converted  in  the  great  revival  of  1787-8, 
and  at  once  consecrated  himself  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  He  pursued 
his  studies  to  this  end  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Smith,  and  was  licensed 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover  April  25,  1789.  Immediately  he  began  a 
career  of  great  success  as  an  evangelist,  preaching  in  many  fields,  but 
spending  the  months  of  March  and  April  of  the  next  year  in  the  charge 
over  which  he  was  afterward  settled.  He  was  then  employed  by  the  newly 
appointed  "Commission  of  Synod"  as  their  first  missionary,  and  labored 
under  their  direction  from  June  1,  1790,  to  the  first  of  October  following, 
when,  though  strongly  solicited  to  continue  in  this  work,  he  resigned  his 
commission  and  accepted  a  call  from  these  churches  in  Frederick  County 
in  which  he  had  already  labored,  and  to  which  he  now  removed  in  the  fall 
of  1790.  He  was  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the  ministry  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Hanover  April  5,  1791,  at  a  meeting  held  in  the  Briery  Church,  in  his 
native  county,  Prince  Edward;  and  the  following  October  was  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Lexington.  He  was  never  installed  in  the  Opecquon 
field,  though  he  continued  his  labors  there  with  distinguished  success  for 
nineteen  years,  when  impaired  health  compelled  him  to  resign.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1809,  he  was  dismissed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Winchester  to  his  old 
Presbytery  of  Hanover,  within  the  bounds  of  which  he  continued  to  labor, 
as  his  health  would  allow,  in  vacant  churches  and  destitute  neighborhoods, 
but  never  again  had  he  the  stated  charge  of  a  congregation. 

About  the  year  1794,  Mr.  Legrand  was  united  in  marriage  to  an  accom- 
plished lady,  Margaret  Holmes,  a  member  of  the  Cedar  Creek  Church,  and 
a  sister  of  Governor  David  Holmes,  of  Mississippi;  by  this  marriage  he  had 
five  children,  and  was  singularly  happy  in  his  home.  Mrs.  Legrand  died 
sometime  before  he  left  Opecquon;  and  after  his  removal  he  married  Mrs. 
Paulina  Read,  of  Charlotte  County,  Va.,  on  whose  large  estate  he  afterwards 


38  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

resided  in  the  comforts  of  an  ample  fortune.  He  died  in  1814,  while  on  a 
visit  to  his  old  friends  in  Frederick  County;  and  his  unmarked  grave  is  in 
the  burying  ground  of  his  old  Stone  Church  in  Winchester. 

Dr.  Foote,  in  his  "Sketches  of  Virginia,"  Vol.  I,  pp.  530-543,  gives  an 
extended  and  most  interesting  sketch  of  the  life,  character,  and  ministry  of 
Mr.  Legrand,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred.  In  that  sketch  he  is  described 
as  a  remarkably  handsome  man, with  dark  brown  hair,  high  forehead,  open 
countenance,  expressive  eye,  and  melodious  voice;  tall  and  spare,  yet  well 
proportioned,  graceful  and  easy  of  movement,  and  preposessing  in  manner. 
While  inclined  to  taciturnity,  and  sometimes  to  a  gloomy  reserve,  yet,  in 
company  that  pleased  him,  his  powers  of  conversation  were  extraordinary, 
abounding  in  wit,  and  amusing  anecdote.  His  preaching  was  unusually 
attractive,  though  not  distinguished  for  superior  learning,  finish  of  compo- 
sition, or  force  of  reasoning.  In  these  particulars  he  was  far  surpassed  by 
many  of  his  contemporaries,  who  yet  fell  far  hehind*him,  both  in  popular- 
ity and  usefulness.  His  comely  person,  graceful  gestures,  and  especially 
the  music  and  modulation  of  his  voice,  fitted  him  admirably  for  the  pulpit, 
and  attracted  the  attention  of  his  hearers,  without  any  spdcial  regard  to  the 
subject-matter  of  his  discourse.  But,  in  addition  to  this,  the  deep  and  all- 
pervading  impressions  of  godliness  with  which  his  soul  was  imbued,  cre- 
ated an  atmosphere  about  him  which  all  felt.  He  lived  near  to  God,  and 
uniformly  enjoyed  his  religion.  He  excelled  in  prayer,  as  one  who  lived 
near  the  throne.  He  was  always  conscious  of  the  presence  of  his  Saviour. 
And  in  the  pulpit  all  these  things  imparted  such  an  unction  to  his  sermons 
and  exhortations,  that  few  could  hear  him  preach  without  feeling  more  or  less 
conviction  of  sin.  No  minister  of  his  day  was  so  much  sought  after  by  men, 
or  so  much  honored  of  God  as  Legrand.  No  wonder,  then,  that  under  his 
ministry  Opecquon  saw  its  best  days.  Delighted  crowds  attended  his  ser- 
vices; and  under  his  pungent  preaching  the  waning  piety  of  God's  people 
was  rekindled,  inquiry  was  awakened,  and  rich  spiritual  harvests  were 
gathered.  It  was  soon  found  that  the  House  of  Worship  was  not  large 
enough  for  present  requirements,  and  the  old  log  building,  which  had 
already  supplanted  a  smaller  one,  was  taken  down  and  the  commodious  stone 
church,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1873,  was  built;  and  on  pleasant 
Sundays  was  filled  from  door  to  pulpit. 

In  closing  this  account  of  the  "Old  Opecquon,"  it  is  interesting  to 
state  that  in  the  early  months  of  1792,  this  church  had  another  distinguish- 
ed visitor,  whose  "reminiscenses,"  if  not  so  spicy  as  the  "Diary"  of  Mr. 
Fithian,  are  at  least  as  valuable.     I  quote  from  an  unpublished  manuscript 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  39 

of  Rev.  Archibald  Alexander,  D.  D.,  in  which  he  tells  of  his  work  in  this 
Lower  Valley  immediately  after  his  licensure  in  the  old  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Winchester: 

"  After  spending  a  week  or  two  in  Charlestown  and  vicinity,  accord- 
ing to  a  promise  made  to  Mr.  Legrand,  I  returned  to  Frederick  County 
and  spent  four  weeks  in  supplying  his  place  at  Opekon,  Winchester  and 
Cedar  Creek,  x  x  In  Opekon  congregation  a  revival  of  religion  had 
been  in  progress  for  some  time.  The  good  work  extended  also  beyond 
the  congregation  to  a  populous  but  poor  neighborhood  called  '  The  Pines.' 
Here  at  a  mill  I  held  many  meetings  in  the  evening,  where  crowds  of  peo- 
ple, more  than  could  be  accommodated,  came  out.  x  x  x  The  weeks 
which  I  spent  at  Opekon  passed  pleasantly.  Besides  the  services  of  the 
Sabbath,  we  held  a  meeting  every  Tuesday  afternoon  at  Major  Gilkeson's, 
one  of  the  elders  at  Opekon,  and  I  must  say  that  such  meetings  I  never 
attended  any  where  else;  I  mean  that  I  never  felt  the  Saviour's  presence 
so  sensibly ;  and  this  seemed  to  be  the  general  impression." 


:#& 


m.  BULLSKIN, 

Next  in  order,  in  the  Records  to  which  we  have  access,  is  the  Bull- 
skin  Church.  The  Bj^lskin  is  a  tributary  of  the  Shenandoah  and  a  stream 
of  considerable  importance.  The  tradition  is  that  this  singular  name  had 
its  origin  in  the  fact  that  when  the  first  settlers  arrived  there  they  found  on 
the  bank  of  the  stream  the  hide  of  a  buffalo  bull  of  enormous  size, 
stretched  out  to  dry,  the  bull  having  been  killed  by  a  party  of  hunters,  or 
possibly  of  Indians.  The  old  church  stood  on  the  hill,  about  150  yards 
north  of  the  head  spring  of  Bullskin,  and  on  land  now  owned  by  Wm.  M. 
Clements.  Its  ruins  are  still  there,  or  were  ar  a  recent  date.  This  spring, 
which  was  jointly  owned  by  the  Reilys  and  Throckmorton's,  is  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  south  of  Summit  Point,  in  Jefferson  County,  W.  Va., 
quite  near  the  Summit  Point  and  Berry ville  turnpike,  and  the  same  dis- 
tance from  the  old  Charlestown  and  Winchester  road;  5  1-2  miles  south- 
west of  Aldridge;  7  1-2  west  of  Charlestown,  and  3  1-2  northwest  of  Beu- 
lah. 

The  first  mention  we  find  of  Bullskin  is  in  Donegal  Records  for  April 


40  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

2,  1740.  There  Mr.  Caven  is  ordered  "to  visit  Bullskin  on  the  third  Sab- 
bath of  this  inst."  This  minute  would  seem  to  indicate  that  the  place  was 
one  with  which  the  Presbytery  was  well  acquainted.  It  is  not  spoken  of 
as  a  new  settlement,  and  there  is  nothing  even  to  fix  its  location  in  Virginia 
save  that  Mr.  Caven  was  directed  to  preach  at  "Upekin"  the  Friday  be- 
fore going  to  Bullskin.  It  is  mentioned  as  any  other  place  already  on 
their  roll  would  be  mentioned.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  Bullskin 
was  not  a  new  settlement  in  1740,  as  Opecquon  was  in  1735-6.  It  was 
more  than  20  miles  nearer  the  fords  of  the  Potomac,  in  a  fertile  and  well- 
watered  country ;  and  it  is  not  reasonable  to  suppose  that,  if  this  country 
were  still  unoccupied,  immigrants  would  have  passed  over  it  to  settle  on 
lands  further  away  from  civilization,  and  offering  no  superior  advantages. 
It  is  difficult  to  resist  the  conviction  that  there  were  settlers  on  the  Bullskin 
much  earlier  than  these  Records  show. 

And  yet  in  the  Records  themselves  there  is  a  minute  which  may  throw 
possible  light  on  this  matter.  In  April,  1737,  Presbytery  "appointed 
Messrs.  Anderson  and  Bertram  to  visit  Virginia."  The  minute  does  not 
say  to  what  part  of  Virginia  they  were  to  go,  but  intimations  in  other  min- 
utes seem  to  justify  the  belief  that  they  were  sent  to  the  people  of  this 
Lower  Valley ;  and  if  so,  it  is  not  at  all  improbable  that  they  visited  the 
Bullskin,  and  that  their  report  to  Presbytery  prepared  the  way  for  those 
appointments  of  supplies,  of  which  we  begin  to  read  in  April,  1740,  and 
which  were  afterwards  made  with  such  frequency.  Before  the  long  gap  of 
fourteen  years  occurs  through  the  loss  of  the  Donegal  Records,  during 
which  we  are  entirely  ignorant  of  its  history,  Mr.  *Hynman  (  Hindman  ) 
first,  and  Mr.  Caven  later,  were  appointed  to  supply  this  church.  From 
1759,  through  a  period  of  more  than  twenty  years,  supplications  for 
preaching  "from  various  places  in  Virginia"  were  made  at  each  meeting  of 
Presbytery.  Sometimes  the  name  of  the  church  supplicating  is  given,  and 
that  of  Bullskin  occurs  quite  as  often  as  any  other.  And  while  Mr.  Vance, 
Mr.  Alexander  and  others  were  specially  sent  to  supply  it,  we  find  that 
Mr.  Hoge,  while  still  pastor  of  Opecquon,  etc.,  was  several  times  charged 
with  a  kind  of  general  oversight  "of  all  vacancies  adjacent"  to  him,  and 
with  the  special  duty  of  supplying  Bullskin.  It  is  particularly  noted  that 
in  April,  1767,  Bullskin  and  Tuscarora  united,  and  made  specific  request 
for  the  services  of  Mr.  McCreary  and  Mr.  Craighead.  These  young  men 
had  just  been  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle  ;  and  it  is  quite 
probable  that  the  specific  request  for  them  was  made  in  the  hope  of  secur- 
ing the  permanent  settlement  of  one  of    them.     Many    years    later,    when 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  41 

Mr.  McKnight  had  resigned  the  pastoral  charge  of  Elk  Branch,  "Bullskin 
and  Cool  Spring  ( Gerardstown )  made  supplication  for  Mr.  McKnight  as  a 
stated  supply  till  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery  with  a  view  to  calling 
him  as  pastor."  This  was  in  April,  1783,  and  while  the  application  was 
not  successful,  for  Mr.  McKnight  accepted  a  call  from  a  church  in  Penn- 
sylvania, the  minute  is  interesting  as  containing  the  last  mention  of  Bullskin 
in  our  Ecclesiastical  Records.  Before  this,  for  a  dozen  years  or  so,  in- 
stead of  the  simple  name  of  Bullskin,  the  expression  "Head  of  Bullskin," 
or  "Head  Waters  of  Bullskin"  is  used  when  this  church  is  referred  to. 
The  reason  for  this  is  not  clear  ;  and,  in  fact,  the  whole  history  of  the 
church  is  involved  in  a  good  deal  of  obscurity.  Whether  there  ever  was  a 
properly  organized  church  there  is  itself  somewhat  uncertain.  The  name 
does  not  appear  upon  any  roll  that  I  have  seen,  either  of  Donegal  or  Car- 
lisle Presbytery.  But  if  the  people  on  the  Bullskin  were  never  organized 
as  a  church,  they  certainly  were  organized  for  worship ;  and  whatever  may 
have  been  the  character  of  their  organization,  it  was  efficient  in  procur- 
ing for  them,  with  great  frequency,  through  a  period  of  fifty  years,  the 
ordinances  of  the  Gospel.  It  does  not  appear  that  a  minister  was  ever  set- 
tled among  them,  though  on  more  than  one  accasion  they  made  an  effort 
to  secure  a  pastor;  yet  they  displayed  such  zeal  in  asking  for  supplies  that 
they  seem  not  to  have  been  for  any  long  time  without  the  ministry  of  the 
Word. 

That  such  a  church  should  cease  to  exist  is  accounted  for  by  the  fact, 
that  services  began  to  be  held  at  other  more  central  points,  which  gradually 
drew  away  the  members  from  the  old  place  of  worship.  Charlestown, 
Smithfield,  and  perhaps  Berryville,  as  growing  villages,  required  stated 
preaching;  and  at  length — we  do  not  know  at  what  date— the  old  place  of 
worship  at  the  head  of  Bullskin  was  abandoned,  and  the  house  crumbled 
into  ruins. 

Before  this  occurred,  however,  an  event  of  great  importance  to  the 
interests  of  our  church  in  that  whole  region  took  place.  This  was  the 
call  and  settlement,  in  1791,  of  Rev.  William  Hill  as  pastor  of  Charles- 
town  and  Smithfield  churches  ;  who,  during  a  part,  if  not  the  whole  of 
his  ministry  in  Jefferson  County,  continued  to  hold  stated  meetings  at 
Bullskin.  The  history  of  Mr.  Hill's  ministry  in  the  field  will  be  given 
later  in  connection  with  our  sketch  of  Charlestown  church. 

It  is  a  fact. of  no  little  interest,  that  it  was  at  Bullskin  that  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  began  his  authorized  ministry  and  preached  his 
first  sermon  after  his  licensure  in  Winchester,   October    1,    1791.     As   he 


42  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

told  the  writer  of  this  sketch,  in  his  last  interview  with  him  only  six  weeks 
before  his  death,  he  had  engaged  to  fill  Mr.  Hill's  appointments  for  a  few 
weeks ;  and  on  Monday,  October  3,  he  left  Winchester  in  company  with 
Rev.  Mr.  Legrand,  and  late  that  afternoon  reached  the  house  of  old  Mr. 
Reily  at  the  head  Spring  of  Bullskin.  He  had  been  a  guest  there  a  few 
months  before  on  his  way  both  to  and  from  the  General  Assembly  in 
Philadelphia,  of  which  Assembly  he  was  a  member  as  a  Ruling  Elder 
from  Lexington  Presbytery.  At  that  time  he  had  been  treated  with  mark- 
ed kindness  by  this  family.  They  supplied  him  with  a  horse,  when  his 
own  was  foundered,  and  so  enabled  him  to  continue  his  journey.  Though 
his  coming  now  was  unannounced,  both  he  and  Mr.  Legrand  were  heartily 
welcomed  ;  and  Mrs.  Reily  at  once  insisted  that  they  must  have  preaching 
that  night.  Notice  was  sent  out  and  at  the  hour  appointed  the  house  was 
filled.  To  the  utter  surprise  and  consternation  of  the  young  licentiate  who 
was  then  but  nineteen  years  of  age,  when  the  services  began,  Mr.  Legrand, 
without  previous  intimation,  required  Mr.  Alexander  to  conduct  them  and 
to  preach.  At  first  he  was  overwhelmed  with  alarm  and  confusion  ;  but 
when  he  recovered  his  composure  he  was  enabled  to  preach  with  a  great  deal 
of  comfort  to  himself,  and,  we  can  readily  imagine,  to  the  great  delight  of 
his  hearers.  The  deep  impression  that  incident  made  upon  him  was  evi- 
dent from  the  manner  in  which  the  old  man  related  it  to  the  writer  sixty 
years  after  its  occurrence.  •   - 


IV.  SOUTH  BRANCH  (Concrete). 

Among  the  many  surprises  we  meet  in  our  inquiries  touching  the  Plant- 
ing of  Presbyterianism  within  our  bounds,  none,  perhaps,  is  greater  than 
its  early  date  in  the  Valley  of  the  South  Branch.  In  the  Records  of  Done- 
gal for  December  11,  1740,  mention  is  made  of  a  congregation  of  our  faith 
and  order  already  waiting  there  to  receive  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel. 
The  minute  reads,  "  Mr.  Caven  is  ordered  to  supply  at  Marsh  Creek  (i.  e., 
Gettysburg)  and  South  Branch,  at  his  discretion,  till  our  next."  The  dis- 
tance from  each  other  of  the  two  places  here  named  is  so  great  as  to  sug- 
gest at  first  that  among  the  rivers  of  Pennsylvania  was  a  stream  called  the 
"  South  Branch;"  but  all  doubt  on  this  score  is  dismissed,  when  we  find 
in  the  minutes  of  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery  ( May  30,  1741 ),  that  "  a 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  43 

supplication  ' '  for  supplies  was  brought  in  and  read  from  ' '  the  South  Branch 
of  the  Potomac. ' '  From  what  particular  part  of  the  South  Branch  this  "sup- 
plication" came  is  not  specified,  but  the  subsequent  history  clearly  identifies 
it  with  that  section  above  the  "  Trough,"  now  known  as  the  Moorefield 
Valley.  That  there  should  have  been  a  Presbyterian  settlement  there  large 
enough  to  claim  the  attention  of  Presbytery  as  early  as  1740  is  a  little 
remarkable.  That  Valley  is  so  secluded,  and  v/as  so  far  removed  at  that 
time  from  other  white  settlements  and,  therefore,  so  peculiarly  exposed  to 
attacks  from  the  savages,  that  it  seems  like  an  act  of  recklessness  for  peo- 
ple voluntarily  to  place  themselves  in  such  peril.  An  explanation  is  prob- 
ably found  in  the  fact  that  many  of  these  settlers  sustained  specially  friendly 
relations  to  such  Indians  as  were  in  a  position  to  molest  them. 

There  is  an  old  and  undisputed  tradition,  now  accepted  as  history,  that 
long  before  settlers  had  gathered  in  any  large  numbers  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  John  Howard  and  his  son  penetrated  these  mountain  solitudes  and 
discovered  the  charming  South  Branch  Valley;  then,  crossing  the  moun- 
tains, they  descended  the   Ohio   and   Mississippi,  in   a  skiff  of  their  own 
construction,  and  at  last,  after  a  thrilling  series  of  adventures,  they  found 
themselves  in  London,  and  reported  their  discoveries  to  Lord  Fairfax,  the 
proprietor  of  the  Northern  Neck.     Sometime  after  Howard's  visit,  the  tra- 
dition (or  history)  continues,  John  Van  Meter,  of  New  Jersey,  who,  as  a 
trader,  had  ingratiated  himself  with  the  Indians,  accompanied  a  war  party 
of  the   Dela wares  on  an  expedition  to  the  South,  against  the  Catawbas. 
Their  march  was  up  the  South  Branch  Valley,  giving  Van  Meter  a  fine 
opportunity  to  acquaint  himself  with  that  wonderfully  rich  and  attractive 
country.     Returning  home,  he  described  that  Valley  as  ' '  the  finest  body 
of  land  he  had  ever  seen,"  and  advised  his  sons  to  settle  there.     One  of 
them  took  his  advice.  Visiting  the  country  about  1736,  he  obtained  a  '  'toma- 
hawk title  "  to  the  land  immediately  above  the  Trough,  where  Fort  Pleas- 
ant was  afterwards   built,  and   returned   to   New  Jersey  for  his   family. 
When,  after  a  year  or  two,  he,  with  several  of  his  friends  and  their  fami- 
lies, came  again  to  the  South  Branch,  he  found  that  its  value  had  become 
known  toothers,  probable  through  Howard's  report,  and  that  a  consider- 
able body  of  emigrants  had  already  settled  there.     The  name  of  Van  Meter 
proved  a  protection  to  them  all,  and  the  increase  in  population  was  rapid. 
The  Van  Meters  were  of  Dutch  origin,  as  were  probable  all  who  came 
to  the  South  Branch  under  their  auspices.     Their  church  affiliations  were 
naturally  with   the  Dutch  Reformed;  and  very  early  in  the   settlement  of 
that  Valley  the  Dutch  Reformed  Classis  of  New  Jersey  sent  its  missionaries 


44  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

to  them,  and  to  others  of  their  faith  and  order  in  the  adjacent  vallies,  par- 
ticularly to  Patterson's  Creek.  It  seems,  however,  that  those  who  pre- 
ceded the  Van  Meters,  as  well  as  those  who  joined  them  soon  afterward, 
were  chiefly  of  Scotch-Irish  stock  and,  therefore,  Presbyterians.  And 
either  because  these  were  superior  to  their  Dutch  neighbors  in  numbers  and 
zeal;  or,  which  is  most  likely,  because  Donegal  Presbytery  possessed  supe- 
rior facilities  for  reaching  them  and  supplying  their  spiritual  wants,  the 
Presbyterian  Church  was  the  one  which  obtained  the  earlier  and  firmer 
foothold  in  that  Valley.  We  have  no  continuous  history  of  its  growth,  yet 
some  interesting  data  are  at  hand. 

When,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  May  30,  1741,  supplies  were 
asked  for  from  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac,  we  are  not  told  who  was 
sent;  but  at  the  next  meeting,  in  October,  we  read  that  the  appointments 
were  fulfilled. 

At  that  same  meeting,  October  9,  1741,  we  find  this  suggestive  min- 
ute: "  Pursuant  to  several  supplications  from  several  places  of  the  back 
parts  of  Virginia,  requesting  supplies  during  the  winter  and,  if  possible,  for 
an  ordained  minister,  Presbytery  agreed  that  Mr.  Alexander  McDowell 
should  be  ordained  sine  titulo,  in  order  to  itinerate  sine  tempore  in  Virginia." 
Now,  while  the  expression  "  the  back  parts  of  Virginia,"  as  found  in  our 
Ecclesiastical  Records,  undoubtedly  means  the  Upper  Valley  as  distin- 
guished from  the  Lower,  it  is  not  improbable  that  in  this  case  it  is  meant 
to  include  the  South  Branch,  which  was  far  to  the  west  and  south  of  those 
points,  near  the  familiar  fords  of  the  Potomac,  which  the  Presbytery  was 
accustomed  to  supply;  and  as  the  itinerancy  of  Mr.  McDowell  was  without 
limitation  of  time,  he  might  very  well  have  visited  that  congregation  on  his 
way  to  or  from  Augusta. 

Here  the  unfortunate  gap,  from  the  loss  of  the  Donegal  Records, 
occurs.  But  in  the  Records  of  the  Old-Side  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  for 
May  23,  1751,  this  important  minute  is  found:  "Ordered,  that  Mr.  Craig 
[of  Augusta  County,  Va.]  supply  x  x  x  the  South  Branch,  and 
places  adjacent,  three  Sabbaths  before  our  next."  This  minute  is  inter- 
esting, not  only  as  showing  (as  just  suggested)  that  the  South  Branch  may 
have  been  reckoned  as  in  "  the  back  parts  of  Virginia,"  because  it  was 
those  "  parts  "  especially  that  the  Synod  was  arranging  to  supply;  but  also 
because  it  informs  us  that  there  were  then  other  places  ' '  adjacent ' '  to  the 
South  Branch  that  were  becoming  Presbyterian  centers. 

Our  next  minute  is  of  more  interest,  as  showing  growth  and  zeal  among 
these  people:   "April,  1768,  supplications  were  received  from   the   South 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  45 

Branch  of  the  Potomac;  and  for  an  ordained  minister  to  assise  in  forming 
them  into  a  regular  congregation."  In  answer  to  this  request  Rev.  John 
Roan  was  sent.  While  we  have  no  report  from  him,  it  is  safe  to  assume 
that  his  mission  was  fulfilled,  and  that  we  may  date  from  this  period  ( 1768  ) 
the  first  regular  organization  of  a  church  in  that  Valley;  to  which  the  singu- 
lar name  of  "  Concrete"  was  given. 

From  a  minute  dated  October,  1768,  it  would  appear  that  Presbyte- 
rianism  was  beginning  to  take  root  nearer  the  mouth  of  the  South  Branch, 
as  "  a  number  of  places  in  Hampshire  County  supplicated  for  supplies;" 
and  the  next  spring,  April,  1769,  "  supplies  were  called  for  from  various 
places  on  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac." 

From  this  time  for  more  than  a  dozen  years  there  is  no  mention  of  the 
South  Branch  in  the  Donegal  Records.  But  this  does  not  mean  that  the 
church  had  ceased  to  exist,  or  had  lost  its  zeal  for  Gospel  ordinances.  For 
apart  from  the  fact  that  during  the  stormy  period  that  led  up  to  and  em- 
braced the  War  of  the  Revolution,  a  general  commission  to  look  after  and 
supply  vacancies  had  been  given  to  some  of  the  ministers,  particularly  to 
Mr.  Hoge  after  his  release  from  the  Opecquon  field  ;  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  when  Hanover  Presbytery  was  erected  by  the  Synod  of  New 
York  in  1755,  it  was  given  jurisdiction  over  all  the  territory  south  and  west 
of  Mr.  Hoge's  charge.  This  included  the  Moorefield  Valley,  to  which, 
however,  Donegal,  a  warm  adherent  of  the  Old-Side  Synod,  never  surren- 
dered its  claim.  Hanover  sometimes  sent  its  missionaries  to  the  South 
Branch,  but  its  Records  throw  very  little  light  upon  its  relations  to  that  field. 
When  the  Presbytery  of  Lexington  was  constituted  by  the  Synod  of  New 
York  and  Philadelphia  in  1786,  this  church  with  its  pastor, Rev.  Moses  Hoge, 
was  assigned  to  it. 

A  new  era  in  the  history  of  this  church  began  when  Moses  Hoge  was 
providentially  led  to  settle  among  them.  He  had  been  licensed  in  1781,  and 
the  next  year, before  going  to  Kentucky,  or  on  his  way  there,  he  was  induced 
to  delay  his  journey  for  a  time  in  order  to  preach  for  the  people  of  this  Val- 
ley. They  were  so  much  pleased  with  his  services  and  importuned  him  so 
earnestly  to  remain  with  them,  that  after  long  hesitation  he  relinquished  his 
purpose  of  going  West,  and  concluded  to  remain  with  the  South  Branch 
people  to  whom  he  had  become  so  strongly  attached. 

Having  decided  to  stay  with  the  people  of  Hardy  County,  Mr.  Hoge 
remained  in  that  field  until  the  autumn  of  1787;  when,  because  of  the  effect 
of  the  climate  upon  his  health  and  to  the  great  sorrow  of  his  people,  he 
removed  to  Shepherdstown.  He  was  devoted  to  his  church  and  gave  to  the 


46  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

people  of  South  Branch  a  ministry  of  surpassing  ability  and  value,  the  power 
of  which  was  long  felt  in  all  that  region.  His  home  was  in  Moorefield,  and 
the  log  house  in  which  he  resided  was  standing  within  the  memory  of  some 
now  living.  During  his  residence  there  he  taught  a  school,  which  not  only 
contributed  to  his  support,  otherwise  inadequate,  but  secured  to  the  youth 
of  South  Branch  educational  advantages  of  a  very  superior  character. 

After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Hoge,  this  church  was  supplied  for  a  time 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jennings.  Just  when  his  ministry  here  began  and  how 
long  it  continued,  we  have  no  means  of  determining.  While  Rev.  William 
Hill  was  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  "Missionary  Commission"  of  the 
Virginia  Synod,  he  visited  "Moorefield,  in  Hardy  County,  and  preached  a 
few  sermons  there  in  the  absence  of  Dr.  Jennings,  the  successor  of  Mr. 
Hoge."  This  was  in  September,  1791,  and  this  extract  from  Mr.  Hill's 
Journal  is  all  that  we  know  of  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Jennings  on  the  South 
Branch.  He  was,  we  suppose,  the  Rev.  Jacob  Jennings, father  of  the  distin- 
guished Obadiah  Jennings,  D.  D.,  who  was  pastor  in  Nashville,  Tenn., 
and  died  there  January  12,  1832.  He  (the  father)  was  born  in  New  Jer- 
sey in  1744,  studied  medicine  and  practiced  his  profession  until  about  40 
years  of  age,  when  he  turned  his  attention  to  theology.  It  is  believed 
that  he  entered  the  ministry  in  connection  with  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church.  And  this  suggests  the  probability  that  he  came  to  Virginia  in 
the  interests  of  that  church  to  look  after  those  of  their  own  lineage,  who  were 
scattered  in  considerable  numbers  through  these  valleys,  and  not  a  few  of 
whom  were  to  be  found  on  the  South  Branch.  He  resided  for  several 
years  in  Virginia,  and  we  are  inclined  to  believe  that  a  large  part  of  that 
time  was  passed  at  Moorefield.  Some  months  after  Mr.  Hill's  visit  he 
removed  to  Western  Pennsylvania,  and  in  April,  1792,  was  received  "from 
the  Low  Dutch  Church"  as. a  member  of  Redstone  Presbytery,  and  died  in 
its  service  February  17,  1813. 

Of  this  church  we  know  nothing  more  until  after  the  organization  of 
Winchester  Presbytery,  save  that  at  that  organization  the  "Concrete 
Church"  was  reported  "vacant,  but  able  to  support  a  pastor." 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  47 


V.  CEDAR  CREEK. 

This,  by  universal  consent,  is  one  of  our  oldest  churches,  though  its 
name  does  not  appear  in  existing  records  until  May  18, 1768.  In  the  Rec- 
ords of  the  Synod  of  New  York  of  that  date  is  this  minute:  "A  supplication 
for  supplies,  and  particularly  for  the  opportunity  of  a  probationer,  from 
Cedar  Creek  and  Opecquon  was  brought  into  Synod."  There  is  a  much 
earlier  minute  in  the  Records  of  Donegal  for  1736,  which  says  that  appli- 
cation for  the  services  of  Rev.  Samuel  Gelston  was  laid  before  Presbytery 
"from  both  sides  of  the  Opecquon."  If  this  expression  means,  as  we 
believe  it  does,  Opecquon  proper,  and  Cedar  Creek,  then,  without  the 
mention  of  the  name,  we  have  here  a  distinct  reference  to  the  Cedar  Creek 
Church.  Opecquon  and  Cedar  Creek  were  closely  associated  for  nearly  a 
hundred  years,  and  as  they  are  situated  on  different  sides  of  the  Opecquon 
Creek,  the  two,  when  spoken  of  together,  may  properly  be  designated  as 
"  both  sides  of  the  Opecquon." 

The  location  of  this  church,  as  the  name  indicates,  is  on  Cedar  Creek, 
an  important  tributary  of  the  Shenandoah.  It  is  nine  or  ten  miles  south- 
west .of  the  Opecquon  Church,  and  about  seven  miles  west  of  Stephens- 
burg,  now  called  ' '  Stephens  City. ' '  Its  earliest  settlement  was  by  some 
families  that  came  to  this  Valley  with  Joist  Hite  in  1732,  who  were  re-en- 
forced after  two  or  three  years  by  others  who  came  with  Samuel  Glass. 
Hite  himself  was  probably  not  a  Presbyterian,  but  several  of  those  who 
came  with  him  probably  were,  as  their  names  indicate  a  Scotch-Irish  origin. 
True  to  their  religious  and  ecclesiastical  instincts,  one  of  their  first  efforts 
was  to  provide  a  church  of  their  own  faith  and  order.  And  as  these  set- 
tlers on  Cedar  Creek  had  intimate  relations  with  those  who  settled  on  the 
Opecquon,  they  naturally  joined  forces  "n  their  efforts  to  secure  for  them- 
selves the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel.  Up  to  the  time  of  the  organization 
of  Winchester  Presbytery,  and  for  many  years  after,  these  two  settlements 
are  invariably  united  in  their  church  relations;  so  that  the  history  of  Opec- 
quon, as  we  have  given  it,  is  substantially  the  history  of  Cedar  Creek. 
They  were  the  same  race  of  people;  had  the  same  tastes;  held  to  the  same 
views,  and  the  preacher  that  pleased  the  one  was  entirely  satisfactory  to 
the  .other.  The  "  supplication  "  that  was  intended  to  obtain  a  supply  for 
the  one,  always  included  in  it  a  supply  for  the  other.  Their  history  runs 
parellel  from  their  origin  to  the  close  of  Mr.  Legrand's  pastorate;  and  for 
the  details  of   that   history,  during  the  period  covered  by  this  sketch,  the 


48  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

reader  is  referred  to  what  has  been  more  fully   written   about   Opecquon. 

Of  the  Sessional  Records  of  the  Cedar  Creek  Church  for  nearly  a  cen- 
tury not  a  scrap  can  be  found.  There  is,  however,  a  deed  given  by  Lord 
Fairfax  in  1762,  during  the  pastora'.e  of  Rev.  John  Hoge,  "  conveying  100 
acres  of  land  to  William  Vance,  William  Evans,  James  Coiville,  James 
Hogg,  and  Andrew  Blackburn,  elders  of  the  Presbyterian  congregation  [of 
Cedar  Creek]  and  their  successors,  for  building  a  meeting  house  thereon," 
etc.  The  House  of  Worship  subsequently  built  on  that  land,  we  may 
assume,  was  the  second  one  erected;  and  that  it  was  afterward  replaced 
by  the  stone  edifice  in  which  the  church  worships  now.  This  old  deed  is 
of  special  interest  as  preserving  the  names  of  the  members  of  the  Session 
at  that  date. 

The  first  mention  we  find  of  this  church  in  the  Records  of  Donegal, 
is  in  connection  with  its  failure  to  meet  its  obligations  to  its  pastor — a  failure 
which  was  shared  by  Opecquon.  In  their  united  call  to  Mr.  Hoge  he  was 
promised  an  annual  salary  of  £70;  of  which  amount  Opecquon  was  to  pay 
£45  and  Cedar  Creek  £25.  These  sums,  we  suppose,  indicate  the  com- 
parative financial  ability,  as  well  as  the  membership,  of  the  two  congrega- 
tions. In  November,  1761,  Mr.  Roan  was  directed  to  write  to  both 
churches,  calling  attention  to  the  deficiency,  and  urging  that  it  be  paid. 
At  the  next  meeting,  April,  1762,  we  have  a  statement  of  their  arrearages. 
That  of  Cedar  Creek  amounted  to  £41,  15s.,  6d.,  while  that  of  Opecquon 
amounted  to  £41,  19s.  The  churches  promised  to  pay  what  was  due,  and' 
yet  their  indebtedness  to  Mr.  Hoge  continued  to  be  a  matter  of  complaint 
in  Presbytery  for  ten  years  ;  and  at  last,  in  1772,  his  pastoral  relation  was 
dissolved  because  of  their  failure  to  pay  his  salary.  And  yet,  as  these 
people  manifested  the  greatest  reluctance  to  part  with  their  pastor,  and  as 
Mr.  Hoge  retained  his  home  among  them  for  several  years  and  frequently 
preached  for  both  churches,  we  must  assume  that  their  long  indebtedness 
to  him  was  the  result  of  their  own  straitened  circumstances,  rather  than  of 
their  unwillingness  to  meet  their  obligation. 

In  the  Records  for  October,  1768,  appears  a  minute  showing  that  un- 
friendly relations  had  arisen  between  Mr.  Hoge  and  some  of  the  most  in- 
fluential people  in  the  Cedar  Creek  church,  which  may  account  in  part  for 
their  arrearages  in  salary.     The  minute  is  as  follows: 

"  Mr.  Joseph  Colvil  accused  Mr.  Hoge  before  the  Presbytery  for 
having  fraudulently  obtained  a  judgment  in  Lord  Fairfax's  office,  with  re- 
spect to  a  caveat  entered  by  Hoge  against  the  claims  of  a  certain  Arthur 
McConnel  to  a  tract  of  land ;  as  also  that  Mr.  Hoge  had  laid  said  McCon- 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  49 

nel  under  unreasonable  restraints  in  an  article  of  agreement  for  said  land  ; 
and  that  Mr.  Hoge  had  unjustly  debarred  him,  the  said  Colvil,  from 
church  privileges. 

"  Upon  a  full  hearing  of  the  case  the  Presbytery  declared  Mr.  Hoge 
acquitted  of  all  the  charges." 

It  was  during  the  vacancy  in  this  church  that  the  young  licentiate, Mr. 
Fithian,  paid  his  visit  to  this  region  and  preached  both  at  Opecquon  and 
Cedar  Creek.  He  spent  several  days  visiting  among  the  people,  and  noting 
in  his  famous  Journal  everything  that  interested  him.  Stephensburg 
he  describes  as  "a  small  village,  well  situated.  Four  taverns  in  the  town 
and  one  store  kept  by  Captain  Holmes,  where  I  am  to  lodge."  He  met 
many  prominent  people  of  the  neighborhood.  "Major  Stephens,  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  town."  "Mr.  Wilson,  an  Opecquon  Elder,  a  plain  able 
farmer,  very  old  and  stout,  a  full  and  strong  example  that  the  place  is 
healthy."  "Mr.  Whitehead,  living  on  a  lovely  farm,  a  mile  from  town  ; 
an  old,  gray-headed  bachelor  and  a  Yorkshire  Englishman."  "Col.  Isaac 
Zane,  possessor  of  the  noted  Marlboro  Iron  Works  ;  a  man  of  first  rank, 
both  in  property  and  office  ;  and  a  patriot  of  fiery  temper."  Col.  Hite, 
whose  "general  characteristics  are  wealth  and  honesty.  He  entertained 
us  merrily  with  humor,  toddy  and  music."  But  of  the  church  itself  he 
writes  : 

"  Sunday,  June  4.  Cedar  Creek  Church,  six  miles  from  Stephens- 
burg, northwest.  All  here  are  full  Quakers.  I  preached  twice  ;  the  as- 
sembly very  attentive.  '  I  made  very  little  use  of  my  notes,  which  is  a  vast, 
almost  essential  recommendation  here.  Preach  without  papers  ;  produce 
casuistic  divinity  ;  seem  earnest  and  serious,  and  you  will  be  listened  to 
with  patience  and  wonder.  Both  your  hands  will  be  seized,  and  almost 
shook  off  so  soon  as  you  are  out  of  the  church,  and  you  will  be  claimed 
by  half  of  the  society  to  honor  them  with  your  company  after  sermon. 
Read  your  sermons,  and  if  they  be  sound  and  sententious  as  Witherspoon's, 
copious  and  fluent  as  Harvey's,  and  read  off  with  the  ease  and  dignity  of 
Davies,  their  backs  will  be  up  at  once,  their  attention  all  gone,  their  noses 
will  grow  as  red  as  their  wigs  ;  and  ( let  me  whisper  this )  you  may  get 
your  dinner  where  you  breakfasted.  'Please  keep  your  seats,'  said  an  old 
gray-headed  gentleman  when  worship  was  concluded.  He  took  off  his 
hat  and  made  a  collection.  Well,  I  must  go  home  with  this  venerable  prop 
of  the  church.  His  wife  is  old  and  flaxen-haired  as  he.  Both  are  hearty, 
lusty  and  nimble.  In  this  happy  condition  of  life  and  friendship,  by  Hy- 
men's blessing,  they  have  lived  together  fifty-five  years.     They  have  three 


50  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

daughters  at  home,  virgins,  and  well  risen  in  years.  Have  some  books, 
much  poultry.  Mr.  Colville  lives  within  four  miles  of  the  North  Mountain 
on  the  bank  of  Cedar  Creek. 

"Monday,  June  5.  We  breakfasted  heartily  and  soundly  on  the  rich- 
est products  of  a  fat  farm.  Boiled  milk,  highly  buttered,  and  fine  cheese 
of  two  kinds,  one  made  last  summer  and  the  other  last  week.  We  passed 
one  freeman  talking  politicks  and  religion.  These  good  people  are  full 
warm  for  election  and  reprobation  in  its  strictest  sense.  Mr.  Colville  gave 
me  yesterday's  collection.  I  am  gratified  to  find  that  when  the  number  at 
church  was  so  small  so  many  remembered  me.  There  were  thirty-four 
pieces  of  silver  in  cut  money,  quarters  of  dollars,  pistareens  and  half  bits. 
The  whole  donation  for  the  two  sermons  was  three  dollars  (£1,  2s.,  6d.). 
After  dinner  we  visited  old  Mrs.  Sarah  Vance." 

It  was  within  the  bounds  of  the  Cedar  Creek  Church  that  Dr.  Moses 
Hoge  was  born  and  reared.  His  father  was  the  James  Hoge  whose  name 
is  in  the  deed  of  Lord  Fairfax  to  this  congregation  and  whom  the  deed 
desiginated  as  one  of  the  Elders  of  the  church.  His  home  was  near  Mid- 
dletown,  on  the  great  road  from  Winchester  to  Staunton.  As  a  man  of 
vigorous  intellect  and  devoted  piety,  he  probably  was  not  inferior  to  any  in 
that  large  Hoge  connection,  so  many  of  whom  have  been  distinguished 
both  in  church  and  State.  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  regarded  him  as  one 
of  the  most  intellectual  men  he  had  ever  met.  He  visited  him  in  his  home 
in  1791,  where  he  was  detained  for  several  days,  and  writes  of  him  in  his 
autobiography:  "We  stopped  at  Mr.  Solomon  Hoge's,  the  brother  of 
Moses,  where  also  his  aged  father  resided.  Though  eighty-four  years  of 
age,  his  intellect  was  in  full  vigor  and  he  delighted  in  theological  discus- 
sion. He  gave  me  a  narrative  of  the  state  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Pennsylvania  during  his  youth.  He  informed  me  that  as  soon  as  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  carefully  read  every  article  of  the  Westminster 
Confession  of  Faith  to  see  if  he  could  adopt  the  whole;  which  he  was  able 
freely  and  deliberately  to  do.  He  was  now  in  connection  with  the  Seceder 
Church.  He  did  not  tell  me  how  this  came  about;  but  some  years  after- 
wards, Dr.  Hoge  told  me  that  his  father  left  the  Presbyterian  Church  on 
account  of  the  "Adopting  Act,"  which  permitted  candidates  to  make  excep- 
tions when  adopting  the  Confession.  I  do  not  know  that  I  ever  got  so  much 
instruction  from  any  one  in  the  same  time  as  from  this  old  gentleman. 
Difficulties  which  I  had  about  some  points,  he  entirely  removed  to  my 
satisfaction. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  51 


VL  TUSCARORA. 

The  church  with  whose  name  we  next  meet  is  "  The  Old  Tuscarora." 
This  church  is  about  two  miles  west  of  Martinsburg,  on  the  Tuscarora 
Creek,  from  which  it  takes  its  name.  This  creek  rises  at  the  eastern  base 
of  the  North  Mountain,  flows  through  Martinsburg,  and,  a  few  miles  east 
of  that  city,  empties  into  the  Opecquon.  It  is  one  of  the  important  water 
courses  of  Berkeley  County. 

That  the  name  of  this  church  does  not  appear  in  any  existing  Eccle- 
siastical Records  until  April  6,  1760,  will  excite  some  surprise,  as  the 
accepted  local  tradition  is  that  its  existence  precedes  that  date  by  at  least 
fifteen,  if  not  twenty,  years.  Henry  Howe,  in  his  "  Historical  Collections 
of  Virginia,"  claims  "  that  the  spot  on  which  the  Tuscarora  Meeting  House 
now  stands,  is  the  first  place  where  the  Gospel  was  publicly  preached,  and 
Divine  worship  performed,  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge."  This  claim  can 
hardly  be  sustained;  and  yet  the  strong  probability  is,  that  Tuscarora  is 
one  of  the  oldest  churches  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah.  That  we  have 
no  mention  of  it  until  1760  is  due,  no  doubt,  to  the  loss  of  Presbyterial 
Records  of  the  preceding  fourteen  years.  The  lands  along  the  Tuscarora 
are  among  the  finest  in  Berkeley  County,  and  were  taken  up  and  occupied 
at  an  early  date,  and  largely  by  the  Scotch-Irish.  And  it  can  hardly  be 
questioned  that  if  that  lost  volume  of  the  Donegal  Records  could  be  recov- 
ered, it  would  be  found  that  the  Presbyterian  people  on  that  creek  had 
organized  themselves  for  public  worship,  and  were  in  possession  of  Gospel 
ordinances  not  later  than  1745 — the  latest  date  that  tradition  assigns.  It 
was  evidently  an  established  place  of  worship  of  considerable  importance 
when  we  first  meet  with  the  name.  Not  only  are  supplies  regularly  ap- 
pointed, but  it  would  appear  that  an  elder,  or  commissioner,  was  sent  to 
Presbytery  to  ask  for  these  supplies  in  person.  We  take  this  to  be  the 
meaning  of  the  minute  of  October  21,  1760,  when,  instead  of  the  usual 
expression  that  ' '  supplication  was  sent,  "or  "  supplication  was  received 
and  read,"  the  minute  is  that  " verbal  supplication  from  Tuscarosa  "  was 
made  for  supplies. 

The  next  minute,  April  28,  1762,  is  still  more  significant  as  to  the 
strength  this  church  had  already  attained.  It  reads  that  "  the  congrega- 
tions of  Tuscarora  in  Virginia  and  Falling  Waters  supplicate  for  supplies, 
and  for  laborers  for  some  time  to  come,"  showing  a  growing  discontent  with 
a  system  that  sent  them  supplies  only  rarely,  and  at  long  intervals  and  for 


52  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

short  periods.  In  response  to  this  unusual  request  Mr.  Hoge  was  ordered 
to  supply  them  nine  Sabbaths,  and  Mr.  Roan  to  assist  him  during  the 
month  of  August. 

From  this  date  (1762)  until  1771  supplications  for  supplies  for  Tusca- 
rora  in  Virginia  are  made  at  nearly  every  stated  meeting  of  Presbytery,  and 
at  some  of  the  adjourned  meetings  also;  and  in  answer  to  these  requests, 
Presbytery  appointed  for  a  longer  or  shorter  term,  and  with  greater  or  less 
frequency,  the  following  supplies,  viz.:  Messrs.  McGan,  Roan,  Slemmons, 
Cooper,  Craighead,  Alexander,  McCreary,  Hoge,  Balch,  Lewis,  Lang, 
Vance,  Thompson,  Duffield  and  Rhea. 

In  October,  1765,  the  church  made  special  application  for  the  serv- 
ices of  Licentiate  Robert  Cooper,  with  a  view  to  his  settlement  among 
them.  He  had  just  been  licensed,  was  a  young  man  of  great  promise, 
and  was  afterwards  known  as  one  of  the  distinguished  men  of  the  church. 
This  application  was  not  successful. 

Eighteen  months  later  their,  attention  was  turned  to  another  young 
man,  Mr.  John  McCreary,  who  had  just  been  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Castle;  and  Donegal  Presbytery  was  asked  ( April,  1767)  to  secure 
him  for  Tuscarora,  with  a  view  to  his  settlement  as  pastor.  A  year  later, 
April,  1768,  this  effort  was  renewed;  the  church  asked  leave  of  its  Pres- 
bytery to  apply  to  New  Castle  Presbytery  for  a  part  of  Mr.  McCreary' s 
time,  and  liberty  was  given  it  to  prosecute  a  call  for  this  minister;  but  this 
effort  also  resulted  in  failure. 

In  connection  with  the  appointment  of  Rev.  Hezekiah  James  Balch  to 
supply  Tuscarora,  May  20,  1769,  the  following  incident  is  worthy  of  men- 
tion as  showing  the  spirit  of  the  age.  Mr.  Balch  had  recently  been  mar- 
ried, and  he  was  now  arraigned  before  his  Presbytery  for  allowing  his  mar- 
riage to  be  solemnized  "by  an  English  established  minister."  When  re- 
quired to  answer  to  this  accusation  Mr.  Balch  humbly  confessed  his  fault 
before  Presbytery,  and  then  stood  up.and  was  censured  in  due  form  by  Mr. 
Roan,  the  moderator. 

After  many  failures  to  obtain  a  pastor,  Tuscarora  at  length  called  Mr. 
Hugh  Vance.  Mr.  Vance  was  received  as  a  candidate  by  Donegal  Pres- 
bytery, April  11,  1769,  and  was  put  upon  his  "trials,"  and  licensed  to 
preach  August  30  of  the  same  year.  He  was  appointed  several  times  to 
preach  at  Tuscarora,  and  his  preaching  was  so  acceptable  that  in  October, 
1770,  a  call  from  the  United  churches  of  Tuscarora  and  Falling  Waters 
was  laid  before  Presbytery,  placed  in  his  hands  and  accepted.  On  Tues- 
day, August  21,  1771,  the  Presbytery  met  at  the   Tuscarora   Church   and 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  53 

ordained  him  to  the  full  work  of  the  ministry,  and  installed  him  pastor  of 
the  Tuscarora  and  Falling  Waters  churches. 

This  minute  (August  21,  1771)  gives  us  an  important  date  in  the  his- 
tory of  Presbyterianism  in  Virginia.  That  was  the  first  meeting  of  Donegal 
Presbytery  south  of  the  Potomac  River,  and  the  pastorate  then  constituted 
was  the  second  one  formed  within  our  Presbyterial  bounds.  The  one  first 
formed  (in  the  Opecquon  field)  ended  the  next  year,  viz:   1772. 

Of  the  Rev.  Hugh  Vance  not  very  much  is  now  known,  beyond  the 
fact  that  he  was  pastor  of  the  Tuscarora  church  for  twenty  years.  He  was 
born  in  1736,  and  probably  in  Pennsylvania.  It  is  said,  though  the  state- 
ment is  not  confirmed,  that  he  was  of  the  family  of  Vances  that  came  to 
this  Valley  in  1735,  or  6,  with  Glass,  Colvin,  White  and  others.  It  does 
not  seem  that  he  was  ever  much  distinguished  as  a  preacher,  or  that  he  wield- 
ed any  great  influence  as  a  presbyter.  Yet  he  was  very  highly  respected 
by  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  and  beloved  as  a  pastor.  He  was  indus- 
trious and  zealous  in  his  work,  faithful  to  his  duty  in  his  own  charge,  and 
always  ready  to  give  his  services  to  destitute  points  around  him,  whether 
far  or  near.  We  find  him  on  at  least  one  occasion  (1773  or  4)  making  a 
journey  across  the  Alleghanies  in  the  interest  of  the  church — an  undertak- 
ing at  that  day  of  no  little  risk  and  hardship.  Mr.  Fithian,  who  visited 
him  May  20,  1775,  and  received  from  him  "liberty  to  visit  and  preach  in 
the  neighboring  vacancies,"  says  of  him,  that  ""he  lived  at  the  foot  of  the 
North  Mountain  ;  partakes,  I  believe,  of  the  Virginia  spirit,  and  hands 
round  the  sociable  bowl."  As  to  his  personal  appearance,  a  contemporary 
and  relative  of  his,  whom  I  personally  knew,  Mr.  Adam  Sanaker,  who 
lived  near  Gerrardstown,  described  him  as  "a  tall,  spare  man,  and  very 
weakly."  When  Rev.  William  Hill  visited  him  in  September,  1791,  he 
found  him  "on  the  borders  of  the  grave,  in  the  last  stages  of  consumption." 
And  yet  when  Mr.  Hill  preached  the  next  day  at  Tuscarora  he  says  "Mr. 
Vance  rode  out  and  lay  in  one  of  the  pews  while  I  preached."  He  died 
December  31,  1791,  and  his  remains  are  buried  in  the  old  grave  yard  at 
Tuscarora. 

There  is  some  confusion  in  the  Presbyterial  Record  touching  Mr. 
Vance's  pastorate,  which  leaves  us  in  much  uncertainty  as  to  the  pastoral 
relation  he  actually  held.  In  the  minute  (October,  1771)  which  records 
his  ordination,  it  is  also  said  that  he  was  installed  pastor  of  Tuscarora  and 
Falling  Waters.  But  in  a  previous  minute  (October,  1770)  his  call  is  said 
to  have  come  from  Falling  Waters  and  Back  Creek.  Then  in  the  History 
of  Carlisle  P/esbytery,  by  Dr.  Norcross,  he  is  mentioned  as  pastor  of  Tus- 


54  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

carora  and  Back  Creek  ;  and  during  the  whole  period  of  his  twenty  years 
ministry  in  Berkeley  County.  Falling  Waters  is  continually  asking  and 
obtaining  supplies  from  Presbytery  as  if  vacant.  But  this  is  a  matter  that 
belongs  properly  to  the  Falling  Waters  church,  and  the  facts  in  the  case 
will  be  more  fully  stated  in  the  sketch  of  that  church.  That  Mr.  Vance 
was  pastor  of  Tuscarora  is  not  open  to  doubt.  His  residence  was  always 
within  the  bounds  of  that  church. 

The  year  after  Mr.  Vance's  death  (1792)  "supplications  were  sent  to 
Presbytery  from  Tuscarora  for  themselves,  and  on  behalf  of  Martinsburg 
and  Back  Creek ;"  and  the  next  year  (April,  1793)  Tuscarora  and  Falling 
Waters  unite  in  a  call  for  the  Rev.  John  Boyd,  who  is  ordered  to  supply 
these  two  churches  until  the  next  meeting.  At  the  next  meeting,  October, 
1793,  the  call  was  placed  in  his  hands  and  accepted.  In  April  (9,  1794) 
he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  Tuscarora  and  Falling  Waters,  and 
remained  in  charge  of  these  two  churches  until  April  16,  1801,  when  his 
pastoral  relation  was  dissolved,  and  two  years  afteward  he  was  dismissed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick. 

When  the  Presbytery  of  Winchester  was  erected  (1794)  the  Tusca- 
rora church,  though  not  included  in  the  organization,  was  probably  one  of 
the  strongest  in  this  Valley.  After  some  years  its  strength  was  greatly 
reduced  by  the  colony  set  off  to  form  the  Martinsburg  church,  and  also  by 
the  emigration  of  its  members.  Of  late,  however,  it  has  been  much  re- 
vived under  the  able  ministry  of  Rev.  Dr.  F.  M.  Woods.  The  old  stone 
building,  in  which  they  have  long  worshipped,  was  erected  in  1803. 


VII.  BACK  CREEK. 

The  Back  Creek  Valley  lies  between  the  Little  and  Big  North  Moun- 
tains, in  the  western  parts  of  Berkeley  and  Frederick  counties.  The  stream 
from  which  it  derives  its  name  rises  in  southwestern  Frederick,  runs  a 
northerly  course  for  fifty  miles  or  more  and  empties  into  the  Potomac. 
The  Valley  is  very  beautiful,  and  early  attracted  the  emigrants  who  were 
seeking  homes  south  of  the  Potomac  River ;  many  of  them  choosing  the 
smooth  lands  along  this  creek  in  preference  to  the  strong  limestone  land 
in  the  Valley  between  the  North  Mountain  and  the   Blue   Ridge.     During 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  55 

the  Braddock  war,  however,  they  were  so  harrassed  by  the  Indians  that  a 
large  part  of  them  recrossed  the  mountain  and  settled  on  Tuscarora  and 
at  Falling  Waters,  by  which  movement  the  churches  planted  at  those 
places  were  materially  strengthened. 

But  many  years  before  this  migratory  movement  began,  the  settlers, 
who  were  largely  of  Presbyterian  lineage  and  faith,  had  established  a 
church  in  their  own  Valley.  The  location  of  this  church  was  probably 
the  same  as  that  which  for  a  century  the  Presbyterians  on  Back  Creek 
have  occupied,  viz  :  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek,  near  Tomahawk  Spring, 
about  four  miles  southwest  of  Hedgesville,  and  perhaps  seven  or  eight 
miles  west  of  Martinsburg.  The  large  stone  building  now  in  use  is  the  one 
in  which  this  congregation  has  worshipped  for  a  century  or  more. 

The  name  of  this  church  is  first  found  in  the  same  minute  of  Donegal 
Presbytery,  in  which  the  name  of  "  Tuscarora  in  Virginia"  first  occurs, 
April  6,  1760 ;  and,  like  Tuscarora,  it  appears  then  as  a  place  accustomed 
to  receive  supplies,  and  where  worship  had  been  already  established.  That 
its  name  does  not  appear  earlier  is  no  doubt  due,  as  in  so  many  other 
cases,  to  the  loss  of  the  Records  of  the  previous  fourteen  years.  Tradi- 
tion is  very  explicit  in  assigning  an  early  settlement  to  the  Back  Creek 
Valley,  and  largely  by  people  of  the  Scotch-Irish  race. 

In  April,  1760,  "Mr.  Hoge  is  ordered  to  supply  Back  Creek;"  and 
the  next  October  (21,  1760)  this  church,  through  an  Elder  or  Commis- 
sioner, sent  to  Presbytery  for  the  purpose,  makes  "  a  verbal  supplication" 
for  preaching  ;  and  Mr.  Hoge  then,  and  on  several  subsequent  occasions, 
is  appointed  their  supply.  For  the  following  nine  years  Presbytery  fur- 
nished this  church  repeatedly  with  supplies  in  connection  with  either  Tus- 
carora or  Falling  Waters,  with  which  churches  its  associations  have  always 
been  intimate. 

In  October,  1770,  Mr.  Hugh  Vance,  who  had  just  been  licensed,  was 
appointed  to  supply  Back  Creek;  and  at  the  same  meeting  a  call  was  laid 
before  Presbytery  from  Back  Creek  and  Falling  Waters  for  Mr.  Vance  to 
become  their  pastor.  While  there  is  no  direct  statement  in  the  Records 
that  Mr.  Vance  was  ever  installed  pastor  of  Back  Creek,  there  is  much 
indirect  evidence  that  such  was  the  fact.  The  historian  of  his  Presbytery, 
Dr.  Norcross,  says  that  he  was  installed.  In  April,  1775,  Mr.  Lang  is 
ordered  by  Presbytery  to  write  to  Back  Creek  church,  urging  it  to  pay 
the  arrears  due  on  Mr.  Vance's  salary;  and  the  following  June  Mr.  Fithian 
speaks  of  the  Back  Creek  church  as  "  Mr.  Vance's  Meeting  House."  It 
is  quite  certain  that  during  the  twenty  years  of  Mr.  Vance's  pastorate  in 


* 


56  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

Berkeley  County,  he  preached  statedly  to  the  Back  Creek  people,  and  was 
regarded  by  all,  and  he  himself  acted,  as  their  pastor.  During  all  that 
period  no  application  from  them  goes  up  to  Presbytery  for  supplies,  but  as 
soon  as  his  death  occurs  (December  31,  1791)  we  find  them  (1792)  as  a 
vacant  church,  supplicating  Presbytery  for  a  preacher. 

The  Ecclesiastical  Records  give  very  little  information  upon  which 
even  a  conjecture  can  be  based  as  to  the  prosperity  and  growth  of  any  of 
those  churches  whose  early  history  we  are  giving.  But  we  have  reason  to 
believe  that  the  Back  Creek  church  during  that  period  of  planting  was 
among  the  most  prosperous  in  all  this  region.  The  Valley  in  which  it  was 
located  possessed  many  attractions  for  the  immigrant ;  the  rich  bottom 
lands  along  the  creek  were  early  occupied  and  population  rapidly  increas- 
ed. The  commodious  and  substantial  house  of  worship,  erected  during, 
or  soon  after,  the  period  under  consideration,  is  itself  suggestive.  But  the 
diary  of  Mr.  Fithian  throws  positive  light  upon  the  subject,  as  showing 
both  the  size  of  the  congregation  and  the  membership  of  the  church.  He 
writes: 

"  Sunday,  June  18,  1775.  Over  the  North  Mountain  I  rode  to  Mr. 
Vance's  meeting-house  at  Back  Creek.  The  sacrament  was  administered. 
Ninety-three  communicants.  Vast  assembly.  This  North  Mountain  is 
very  high,  at  the  top  almost  bare.  The  view  below  on  each  side  is  rich 
and  beautiful.  On  each  side  we  see  ridges  of  hills,  and  ridges  on  ridges 
still  succeed  until  you  cross  the  Alleghany." 

It  is  gratifying  to  know  that  this  fine  old  church,  after  a  long  period  of 
disheartening  depression  and  decay,  has  revived,  and  is  started  on  a  new 
career  of  active  service  in  the  cause  of  the  Divine  Master. 


Jtilk* 


VIII.  CAPE  CAPON. 

The  name  of  this  church,  so  unfamiliar  to  the  present  generation, 
appears  for  the  first  time  in  the  Donegal  Records  April  29,  1761.  The 
minute  reads,  "supplications  were  received  from  Opeckon,  Cape  Capon," 
and  other  places.  The  name  undoubtedly  refers  to  some  place,  not  care- 
fully designated,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Capon  River.  This  river  is 
one  of  the  important  water  courses  of  eastern  Hampshire.     It  rises  near 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  57 

Wardensville  in  Hardy  County,  flows  northward,  and  empties  into  the 
Potomac  near  the  dividing  line  between  Morgan  and  Hampshire  counties. 
The  name  is  probably  of  Indian  origin,  and  is  said  to  mean  "  to  appear," 
"  to  rise  to  view,"  "to  be  found  again,"  or  something  expressive  of  such 
an  idea;  which  is  fairly  descriptive  of  the  stream  itself,  which  has  this 
remarkable  peculiarity,  that  it  starts  as  a  river,  breaking  from  the  base  of 
the  mountain  as  a  large,  full  stream,  of  river-like  proportions;  while  on  the 
other  side  of  the  mountain  is  "  Lost  River,"  which,  after  flowing  many 
miles,  suddenly  disappears  near  the  base  of  the  mountain;  and,  after  flow- 
ing a  distance  of  three  or  four  miles  underground,  reappears  on  the  other 
side  of  the  mountain,  and  continues  its  course  to  the  Potomac  with  the 
name  of  Capon.  It  is  a  very  tortuous  stream  through  most  of  its  course. 
The  distance  from  a  given  point  on  the  river  to  its  mouth,  following  its 
windings,  is  four  times  greater  than  by  the  country  road. 

The  name  of  this  river,  in  the  Records  of  Hampshire,  is  given  in  a 
great  variety  of  ways — "Capon,"  "  Cacapon,"  "  Cape  Capon,"  Capca- 
pon,"  "  Cacapehon,"  "  Capecacapon,"  "  Capecacahepon,"  and  even  in 
other  ways.     In  the  Donegal  Records  the  name  is  "  Cape  Capon." 

Of  the  first  settlement  of  the  Capon  Valley  we  have  no  definite  infor- 
mation. Who  the  settlers  were  and  when  they  came,  we  do  not  know. 
That  many  of  them  came  immediately  from  Pennsylvania,  and  that  most 
of  them  were  Presbyterians,  is  very  probable.  Though  their  request  for 
Gospel  ordinances  first  appears  in  April,  1761,  it  is  fair  to  suppose,  from 
the  style  of  the  minute,  and  from  its  connection,  that  if  we  had  access  to 
earlier  records,  we  would  find  that  applications  for  supplies  had  been  made 
at  an. earlier  date.  As  it  is  seven  years  before  there  is  any  mention  of  the 
renewal  of  their  application,  the  reasonable  inference  is,  that  some  perma- 
nent arrangement  was  made  for  their  supply — perhaps  through  that  general 
oversight  of  vacancies  entrusted  to  Mr.  Hoge;  or  by  the  coming  of  an 
evangelist  who  remained  for  some  time  with  them.  Anyhow,  it  is  almost 
certain  that  in  this  interval  of  seven  years  they  were  pretty  well  supplied 
with  the  means  of  grace,  and  were  strengthened  in  numbers;  for  in  their 
next  application  to  Presbytery  (April,  1768)  they  do  not  ask  for  an  ordi- 
nary supply,  but  for  "an  ordained  minister,  who  shall  assist  in  forming 
them  into  a  regular  congregation."  And  Mr.  Roan  was  sent  to  perform 
this  important  service  for  them. 

It  is  not  likely  that  any  body  of  people  would  have  felt  justified  in 
taking  a  step  of  such  importance,  unless  their  numbers  were  considerable, 
and   their  habits  of  worship  well  established.     And  this  leads  us  to  ask, 


58  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIAN  ISM 

with  more  interest  than  we  would  otherwise  feel,  on  what  part  of  Capon  River 
this  zealous  Presbyterian  settlement  was  found?  The  very  next  mention  of 
these  people  helps  us  to  this  information.  Only  six  months  after  they  ask 
for  a  church  organization,  viz.:  October,  1768,  "  Mr.  Hoge  is  appointed  to 
supply  Me  Forks  of  Cape  Capon."  This  designates  a  well-known  location 
with  great  exactness.  It  is  where  the  North  River,  its  chief  tributary; 
empties  into  the  Capon.  This  is  some  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles  in  an 
air  line  from  its  mouth,  though  over  ninety  miles  as  the  course  of  the  river 
is  followed.  This  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  points  along  the  river; 
where  the  bottom  lands  are  broad  and  very  productive.  Near  it  are  excel- 
lent mill-seats,  which  have  been  utilized,  and  rich  ore  beds,  which  have 
for  a  long  time  been  worked.  If  is  here  that  Braddock's  famous  military 
road  from  Winchester  to  Cumberland  crosses  the  Capon  River. 

The  next  spring,  April,  1769,  supplies  were  again  asked  for  by  this 
church;  after  which  no  direct  mention  is  made  of  it  for  several  years;  but 
frequent  mention  is  made  of  supplies  being  sent  to  ' '  several  places  in 
Hampshire;"  and  Mr.  Waugh  and  Mr.  McKnight  are  specially  named  at 
different  times  as  these  supplies.  It  may  safely  be  assumed  that  Cape 
Capon  was  included  in  their  mission.  During  the  War  of  the  Revolution  a 
permanent  "  Committee  on  Supplies  "  was  appointed  by  Presbytery,  with 
special  reference,  apparently,  to  the  vacancies  and  destitutions  south  of  the 
Potomac;  and  in  the  services  of  that  committee  this  church  no  doubt  shared. 

Its  name  appears  for  the  last  time  in  the  Donegal  Records  under  date 
of  April,  1781,  and  of  its  subsequent  history  we  know  really  nothing.  If, 
like  some  other  churches  once  flourishing.it  became  so  reduced  by  emigra- 
tion that  it  finally  died  out,  we  do  not  know  when  its  existence  ceased. 
Within  the  memory  of  persons  now  living,  an  old  Presbyterian  church  stood 
in  the  Forks  of  Capon;  and  some  of  the  descendants  of  the  old  members 
of  that  church  are  in  that  region  still.  The  business  interests  of  that  sec- 
tion of  Hampshire  County,  which  a  hundred  years  ago  were  centered  at 
the  Forks  of  Capon,  gradually  drifted  eastward  four  miles  to  Bloomery 
Mills,  where,  in  the  early  part  of  this  century,  our  present  church  of 
Bloomery  was  organized,  which  is  really  the  successor  of  the  old  church 
at  the  Forks. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  59 


IX.  FALLING  WATERS. 

This  church  at  an  early  period  was  ranked,  as  it  is  today,  among  the 
stronger  ones  of  this  region ;  and  as  its  location  was  near  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal fords  of  the  Potomac,  we  would  naturally  expect  to  find  it  named 
quite  early  in  the  history  of  the  Valley  churches.  It  is  a  little  surprising, 
then,  that  we  do  not  meet  with  its  name  until  April  28,  1762  ;  and  that,  in 
the  records  to  which  we  have  access,  the  names  of  eight  other  congrega- 
tions precede  it,  some  of  them,  then  and  now,  of  minor  importance.  Its 
comparatively  late  appearance  is  accounted  for,  as  in  several  other  cases, 
by  the  loss  of  the  Records,  in  which  we  are  quite  certain  the  name  of  this 
church  would  have  been  found. 

The  accepted  tradition  is,  that  about  the  year  1745  a  Presbyterian 
congregation,  composed  largely  of  Irish  immigrants,  was  formed  at  Lower 
Falling  Waters,  in  Berkeley  County,  and  that  towards  the  close  of  that 
century  their  house  of  worship  was  removed  to  a  point  about  three  miles 
east  of  where  the  Falling  Waters  church  now  stands.  This  was  about  seven 
miles  north  of  Martinsburg,  and  not  far  from  the  ford  by  which  so  many 
of  the  early  immigrants  found  their  way  into  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 
Everything  in  the  appearance  of  the  country  and  in  the  quality  of  the  land 
invited  them  to  make  their  homes  in  that  neighborhood  ;  and, true  to  their 
religious  training,  their  own  cabins  were  hardly  built  until  a  place  was  pro- 
vided in  which  God  should  be  worshipped.  That  they  had  been  organized 
for  such  worship  sometime  before  they  are  introduced  to  us  in  the  Presby- 
terial  Records,  and  that  they  had  already  grown  to  some  importance  is  in- 
dicated by  the  fact  that  at  their  first  mention  they  are  presented  to  us  as 
dissatisfied  with  the  prevailing  methods  of  sending  supplies  to  each  church, 
for  only  one  or  two  Sabbaths  at  a  time,  and  these  at  long  intervals.  This 
church  asks  for  supplies,  but  is  explicit  in  the  statement  that  it  wants  "la- 
borers," not  for  a  Sabbath  or  two,  but  "for  some  time  to  come."  And 
while  it  is  not  certain  that  they  enjoyed  the  ministrations  of  the  Word  for 
any  great  length  of  time  during  the  next  twenty -five  years,  yet  it  is  evident 
that  they  faithfully  tried  to  have  their  pulpit  supplied  as  frequently  and 
for  as  long  periods  as  possible  during  that  time. 

For  nearly  a  decade  after  its  name  first  appears,  Falling  Waters  is  a 
frequent  and  zealous  applicant  to  Presbytery  for  supplies ;  and   Messrs. 


60  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

Hoge,  Balch,  Lewis,  Lang,  Thomas,  Slemons,  Vance,    Rhea   and   others 
were  sent  them,  and  some  of  them  were  sent  often. 

In  1771  Mr.  Hugh  Vance,  recently  licensed,  was  settled  as  pastor  of 
Tuscarora ;  but  as  we  have  already  stated  (pp.  53  and  54)  there  is  very 
great  confusion  in  the  Records  as  to  the  relations  of  Falling  Waters  to  this 
pastorate.  It  is  first  stated,  October,  1770,  "Mr.  Hugh  Vance  is  called  to 
be  pastor  of  Falling  Waters  and  Back  Creek."  Then,  in  August,  1771, 
the  minute  states  Presbytery  ordained  Mr.  Hugh  Vance  and  installed  him 
pastor  of  Tuscarora  and  Falling  Waters  ;  but  no  mention  is  made  of  Back 
Creek.  And  yet  in  the  history  of  Donegal  and  Carlisle  Presbyteries  by 
Dr.  Norcross,  Mr.  Vance  is  named  as  pastor  of  Tuscarora  and  Back  Creek 
from  August  21,  1771,  to  December  31,  1791.  That  Mr.  Vance  had  no 
pastoral  relation  to  Falling  Waters  seems  to  be  sustained  by  the  fact,  that 
but  two  months  after  his  installation,  Mr.  Lang  is  ordered  to  supply  Falling 
Waters  the  second  Sabbath  in  November,  and  Mr.  Rhea  the  fourth  Sab- 
bath. The  next  year  these  two  ministers  were  again  appointed  to  supply 
this  church;  and  in  April,  1773,  "  Falling  Waters  and  Elk  Branch  ask  for 
a  supply  to  be  equally  divided  between  them,"  and  Mr.  Lang  is  sent  as  a 
supply.  Among  the  supplies  which  Presbytery  continues  to  send,  Mr. 
Vance  himself  is  named  in  April,  1775.  And  yet  at  that  same  meeting 
Mr.  Vance  speaks  of  this  church  as  his;  he  reports  ' '  that  his  congregations, 
Falling  Waters  and  Tuscarora,  had  given  £5  for  the  aid  of  candidates." 
And  the  pastoral  claim,  which  he  here  seems  to  make,  is  in  full  agreement 
with  the  belief  long  current  in  Berkeley  County.  We  are  not  able  to  offer 
any  solution  of  the  difficulty  which  these  discrepancies  present,  unless  it  is 
found  in  the  fact  (if  it  be  a  fact)  that  names  have  gotten  mixed,  and  that 
Falling  Waters  was  written,  when  Back  Creek  was  really  intended.  If  this 
explanation  is  not  accepted,  it  is  very  difficult  to  account  for  the  fact  that, 
in  April,  1775,  Falling  Waters  distinctly  asks  Presbytery  for  "a  supply  to 
reside  among  them  and  catechize;" — a  request  which  was  frequently  made  by 
these  churches  when  requesting  supplies. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1775  that  Mr.  Fithian  and  Mr.  Andrew  Hunter 
visited  this  church.  They  spent  the  night  of  May  18th  at  Hagerstown, 
Md.  The  next  morning,  when  leaving  the  hotel,  and  about  to  pay  their 
bill,  the  landlord,  Mr.  Van  Lear,  surprised  them  by  saying  that  "  a  clergy- 
man's money  would  not  pass  with  him."  Having  crossed  the  Potomac, 
he  writes,  "  May  19.  We  are  now  in  Berkeley  County,  eighty  miles  above 
Alexandria  and  eighty-seven  from  Baltimore.  We  arrived  among  Mr. 
Hunter's  relatives.     He  introduced  me  to  his  mother,  sister  and  brothers." 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  61 

On  Saturday  they  visited  Rev.  Hugh  Vance,  who  gave  them  "  liberty  to 
visit  and  preach  in  the  neighboring  vacancies."  Availing  themselves  of 
this  liberty  the  day  after,  he  writes  in  his  diary  as  follows: 

"  Sunday,  May  21.  Mr.  Hunter  and  I  preached  at  Falling  Waters 
Meeting  House.  It  stands  on  the  Potowmack,  is  well  situated,  and  I  am 
told  is  a  numerous  society.  The  people  gave  good  attention,  sang  the  Scotch, 
or,  as  they  called  them,  '  David's  Psalms.'  The  congregation  is  chiefly 
made  up  of  country  Irish  and  half  Scotch,  most  of  them  Presbyterians. 
We  dined  at  one  Bowland's.  Two  wagons  fully  loaded  went  past,  going 
with  families  to  back  settlements." 

As  Mr.  Hunter  was  at  home,  the  Presbytery  the  next  month  (June, 
1775 )  appointed  him  to  preach  for  several  Sabbaths  at  Falling  Waters. 

At  almost  every  meeting  of  Presbytery  until  1788,  Falling  Waters  is 
asking  for  supplies  and  great  numbers  of  them  are  sent.  In  October  of 
that  year  this  church  unites  with  Williamsport  and  Hagerstown  in  Mary- 
land in  a  request  for  Mr.  Joseph  Caldwell,  a  licentiate  of  a  Presbytery  in 
Ireland,  "  as  a  constant  supply  for  one  year."  This  request  was  granted. 
In  April,  1791,  Falling  Waters  unites  with  Williamsport  in  a  call  for  the 
ministerial  services  of  Rev.  David  Bard,  accompanied  by  subscription 
papers  promising  an  annual  salary  of  £77,  18s.,  16d.  This  call  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  accepted  by  Mr.  Bard.  In  April,  1793,  Falling  Waters 
and  Tuscarora  united  in  a  call  for  the  Rev.  John  Boyd.  He  was  ordered 
to  supply  them  for  six  months,  and  in  October  of  that  year  accepted  the 
call;  and  April  9,  1794,  was  installed  their  pastor. 

Of  this  minister  very  little  is  known,  beyond  the  fact  that  he  was 
licensed  December  21, 1791,  by  Donegal  Presbytery,  and  that  he  was  pas- 
tor of  Falling  Waters  and  Tuscarora  churches  from  April  9,  1794,  to  April 
17,  1801,  a  period  of  seven  years.  What  was  the  character  of  the  man, 
or  of  his  ministry,  we  have  not  been  able  to  learn.  Of  his  subsequent  life 
and  labors  we  know  nothing,  except  that  he  was  dismissed  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  Brunswick  in  April,  1803,  and  was  without  any  pastoral 
charge  for  several  years.  We  are  ignorant  of  the  date  and  place  of  his 
death. 


62  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 


X.  PATTERSON'S  CREEK. 

Our  knowledge  of  this  church,  prior  to  the  organization  of  Winchester 
Presbytery,  is  rather  limited.  The  name  first  appears  in  the  Presbyterial 
Records  for  April,  1768,  when  Mr.  Roan  is  appointed  to  preach  on  Patter- 
son's Creek,  and  on  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac,  and  at  Cape  Capon. 
And  yet,  at  the  very  next  mention  of  it,  the  people  on  that  creek  not  only 
ask  for  supplies,  but  ' '  especially  for  an  ordained  minister  to  assist  them  in 
forming  themselves  into  a  congregation,  and  ordaining  elders."  This  is  in 
October,  1781,  which  we  may  reasonably  assume  is  very  near  the  date  of 
their  organization  as  a  church.  Eighteen  months  later,  viz:  April,  1783, 
the  Patterson's  Creek  and  South  Branch  churches  unite  in  a  call  for  the  pas- 
toral services  of  Rev.  John  McKnight,  who  had  recently  resigned  from  Elk 
Branch.     This  call  Mr.  McKnight  declined. 

But  besides  these  minutes, in  which  this  church  is  distinctly  mentioned, 
there  is  a  minute  for  October,  1768,  of  such  a  general  character,  that  it 
may  include  Patterson's  Creek — "a  number  of  places  in  Hampshire  sup- 
plicate for  supplies."  And  there  is  another  minute,  nearly  ten  years  later 
(April,  1777)  which  tells  in  general  terms  that  "  Mr.  Waughwas  appointed 
to  supply  in  Hampshire."  Each  of  these  minutes  may  refer  to  service 
that  was  rendered  on  Patterson's  Creek,  as  well  as  to  other  places  in  that 
county. 

We  learn,  however,  from  other  sources,  that  the  people  of  this  Valley 
were  sometimes  in  the  enjoyment  of  Gospel  ordinances,  other  than  those 
furnished  by  members  of  Donegal  Presbytery.  Some  of  the  early  settlers 
were  of  Dutch  origin;  and  missionaries  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Classis 
were  sometimes  sent  to  preach  to  them. 

But  they  were  specially  blessed  for  two  years  or  more  with  the  servi- 
ces of  a  preacher  of  their  own  church,  who  was  afterwards  known  as  one 
of  the  distinguished  ministers  of  his  day — Rev.  Thaddeus  Dod. 

Mr.  Dod  was  born  near  Newark,  N.  J.,  in  1740,  and  belonged  to  a 
family  that,  for  several  generations,  has  been  remarkable  for  mathemati- 
cal taste  and  talent.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Albert  B.  Dod,  of  Princeton,  was  his 
great  nephew.  Thaddeus  Dod  was  gradua  ei  at  Panceton  in  1773,  studied 
theology  under  Dr.  Alexander  McWhorten,  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery 
of  New  York  in  1775,  and  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery,  sine  titulo,  in 
October;  1777.  After  his  licensure  he  undertook  a  journey  to  western 
Pennsylvania,  where  several  families  from  his  own  neighborhood  had  gone. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  63 

On  his  way  he  stopped  at  Patterson's  Creek,  and  preached  to  those  people 
for  a  few  weeks;  and  then  continued  his  journey  to  the  vicinity  of  what  is 
now  Washington,  Pa.,  where  he  yielded  to  the  importunities  of  his  old 
friends,  to  become  their  pastor.  With  this  end  in  view  he  returned  home, 
received  ordination,  and  about  November  1,  1777,  set  out  with  his  wife  and 
two  children  for  their  distant  home.  Reaching  Patterson's  Creek  again,  he 
learned  of  the  depredations  the  Indians  were  committing  in  the  West. 
Leaving  his  family  in  the  care  of  friends,  he  crossed  the  mountains  alone, 
and  was  advised  that  the  risk  of  bringing  his  family  there  at  that  time  was 
too  great;  so  he  returned  to  Patterson's  Creek,  where,  in  the  providence  of 
God,  his  stay  was  prolonged  for  about  two  years  ( 1777-1779 ),  during  which 
time  he  preached  unremittingly,  and  with  great  acceptance  and  effect  to 
the  people  on  the  creek  and  places  adjacent.  His  labors  here  were  so 
richly  blessed,  and  his  £aithfulness  had  so  endeared  him  to  that  people, 
that  when  the  way  was  open  for  him  to  leave,  a  vigorous  effort  was  made 
to  retain  him,  and  a  much  larger  salary  was  offered  than  had  been  prom- 
ised at  Tenmile.  But  his  word  had  been  given,  and  he  must  abide  by  it. 
During  his  sojourn  on  Patterson's  Creek,  he  buried  a  child.  Mr.  Dodwas 
the  second  minister  who  settled  west  of  the  Monongahela  River,  and  he 
penetrated  farther  into  the  wilderness  than  any  before  him.  And  there  he 
labored  in  great  peril  from  the  savages  until  his  early  death — May  20, 1793. 


Milk. 


XL  SHEPHERDSTOWN. 

Shepherdstown  is  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Potomac  River,  twelve  miles 
above  Harpers  Ferry,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley;  and  for  a  long  time  was  one  of  the  most  important.  It  entertained 
the  Synod  of  Virginia  in  1799.  It  has,  moreover,  the  remarkable  distinc- 
tion of  being  ' '  the  place  where  the  first  steamboat  was  constructed  and 
navigated."  This  town  has  not  always  been  called  by  its  present  name. 
There  is  reliable  evidence  that  it  was  first  called  "  Potomac,"  a  name  that 
it  had  not  altogether  lost  at  the  beginning  of  the  last  century.  When  it 
was  established  by  law  in  1762,  it  was  named  "  Mecklenburg."  But  this 
name  seems  never  to  have  been  received  with  much  favor;  and  very  soon 
it  began  to  be  called  ' '  Shepherdstown, ' '  in  honor  of  Capt.  Thomas  Shep- 


64  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

herd,  who  laid  it  off  on  his  own  land,  and  that  name  it  has  retained  ever 
since. 

The  name  of  Shepherdstown  appears  for  the  first  time  in  Ecclesiasti- 
cal Records  in  October,  1768.  As  there  was  certainly  a  settlement  at  that 
point  at  least  a  third  of  a  century  earlier;  and  as  among  the  early  settlers 
are  many  names  that  were  afterwards  closely  identified  with  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  it  may  be  asked  if  there  was  no  church  there  until  the  date  that 
has  been  mentioned?  This  question  has  already  been  considered  ( pp.  10 
et  seq.,  and  32,  33.),  and  the  answer  given,  that  a  church  had  existed  there  for 
some  time  under  the  name  of  "  Potomac,"  or,  as  at  first  written,  "  Poto- 
moke;"  and  when  the  town  began  to  be  called  by  its  new  name,  "Shepherds- 
town,"  the  name  of  the  church  also  was  changed.  Such  changes,  we  know, 
were  made  in  several  other  instances, and  for  a  like  reason;  e.g. ,  South  Branch 
was  changed  to  Moorefield;  Bullskin  to  Charlestown;  South  River  to  Front 
Royal;  Middletown  to  Gerrardstown;  Stoverstown  to  Strasburg,  etc.  The 
location  of  that  village;  the  evidence  we  have  of  the  very  early  settlement 
of  that  region;  the  almost  absolute  certainty  that  the  Potomac  church  was 
situated  there,  or  in  that  immediate  vicinity;  together  with  the  marks  of 
maturity  and  strength  which  the  Shepherdstown  church  exhibits,  as  soon 
as  it  is  brought  to  our  notice  under  that  name;  lead  surely  to  the  conclu- 
sion, that  it  was  the  successor  of  that  church  whose  name  disappears  when 
that  of  Shepherdstown  is  introduced;  or,  more  properly,  that  it  is  the  same 
church  under  another  and  more  appropriate  name. 

The  Shepherdstown  church  is  first  presented  (October,  1768)  as 
"supplicating  for  supplies;"  and  in  response  two  men,  Messrs.  Slemons 
aud  Balch,  are  ordered  to  supply  them.  The  next  spring,  April  11,  1769, 
supplies  are  again  asked  for;  and  while  there  is  no  record  that  any  particu- 
lar minister  was  sent,  there  is  a  general  order  by  Presbytery  that  Mr.  Hoge 
should  "  supply  the  vacancies  in  Virginia,"  in  which  order,  of  course,  this 
church  was  included.  From  this  time  until  April,  1783,  a  period  of  four- 
teen years,  there  is  no  mention  of  supplies  being  either  asked  for  or  sent. 
In  some  cases  a  long  interval  of  this  kind,  in  which  the  name  of  a  church 
without  a  pastor  does  not  appear  at  all  in  the  Presbyterial  minutes,  might 
be  interpreted  as  indicating  a  very  feeble  condition  of  church  life,  or  a 
guilty  indifference  to  church  ordinances.  But  the  cases  of  Mr.  Jennings  at 
Moorefield,  and  of  Mr.  Dod  at  Patterson's  Creek,  are  proof  that  the  work 
and  worship  of  a  crlurch  may  be  carried  on  very  efficiently  for  a  consider- 
able period,  when  there  is  nothing  whatever  in  the  minutes  of  the  Presby- 
tery to  show  it.     And,  in  this  case,  the  silence  of  the  Records  touching 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  65 

supplies  for  Shepherdstown  may  mean  that  the  church  was  supplying  its 
own  pulpit,  either  by  temporary  arrangement  with  the  minister  of  a  neigh- 
boring church,  or  by  having  obtained  a  "  stated  supply"  of  its  own.  It 
would  be  interesting  to  know  the  true  explanation  of  this  silence,  but  as 
the  Sessional  Records  are  not  now  extant,  we  must  be  content  to  remain 
in  ignorance. 

The  next  minute  we  find  touching  this  church  is  for  April,  1783,  when 
Presbytery  is  asked  for  "supplies  to  be  divided  equally  between  Shep- 
herdstown and  Elk  Branch."  As  this  application  is  made  at  the  first  meet- 
ing after  Rev.  John  McKnight  had  resigned  from  Elk  Branch,  it  suggests 
that  during  his  pastorate  of  six  or  seven  years,  Shepherdstown,  which  is 
but  a  few  miles  distant,  may  have  shared  the  services  of  this  distinguished 
minister.  If  so,  it  will  account  very  satisfactorily  for  about  half  the  inter- 
val between  1769  and  1783. 

Four  years  later,  viz:  in  1787,  Shepherdstown  again  appears  asking  for 
supplies,  and  this  time  from  the  new  Presbytery  of  Carlisle.  We  are  not 
told  who  was  sent. 

This  year,  1787 ,  is  an  important  one  in  the  history  of  the  Shepherds- 
town church,  as  it  was  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  that  Moses  Hoge  settled 
there,  and  began  a  ministry  of  twenty  years  as  the  distinguished  and  suc- 
cessful pastor  of  that  church. 

Of  this  eminent  theologian  and  preacher  much  deserves  to  be  said,  as 
he  stood  among  the  foremost  in  the  ministry  of  his  day;  and  his  memory 
has  been  kept  alive  through  many  generations  by  the  succession  of  learned 
and  eloquent  preachers  who  have  descended  from  him,  shedding  additional 
luster  upon  his  name. 

Moses  Hoge  was  born  near  Middletown,  in  Frederick  County,  Va., 
February  15,  1752;  and  was  the  only  one  of  the  five  ministers  by  whom 
this  Presbytery  was  organized  who  was  born  within  its  bounds.  His  grand- 
parents were  William  and  Barbara  (Hume)  Hoge,  who  migrated  from 
Scotland  in  the  beginning  of  the  Eighteenth  Century,  and  after  residing 
first  in  New  Jersey,  then  in  Delaware,  and  afterwards  in  Pennsylvania, 
finally  settled,  in  1735,  near  the  head  of  Opecquon  Creek,  and  gave  the 
land  on  which  the  Opecquon  Church  is  built.  William  Hoge  had  several 
sons.  The  eldest  did  not  come  with  his  father  to  Virginia,  but  settled  at 
what  is  now  Hogestown,  nine  miles  west  of  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  was  the 
father  of  the  Rev.  John  Hoge,  for  twenty  years  pastor  of  the  churches  of 
Opecquon  and  Cedar  Creek.  James,  the  fourth  son  of  William  Hoge, 
was  the  father  of  Moses.     He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  "a  man  of 


66  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

robust  intellect  and  a  self-taught  theologian,"  the  vigor  of  whose  mind,  and 
the  clearness  of  whose  views,  even  in  old  age,  awakened  the  wonder,  and 
inspired  the  admiration  of  Archibald  Alexander,  who  visited  him  in  1791, 
four  years  before  his  death  (  see  p.  50 .).  Moses  was  the  ninth  son  of  James 
Hoge.  His  early  advantages  of  education  were  limited;  but  he  was  eager 
to  learn,  and  seized  every  moment  that  could  be  spared  from  the  labors  of 
the  farm  in  the  improvement  of  his  mind.  He  was  sent  for  a  brief  period 
to  a  classical  school  in  Culpeper  County,  and  in  1778  to  Liberty  Hall, 
where,  under  Dr.  William  Graham,  he  pursued  his  studies,  both  classical 
and  theological,  in  preparation  for  the  ministry.  He  was  received  as  a 
candidate  by  Hanover  Presbytery  October  25,  1780;  was  licensed  to  preach 
November,  1781;  and,  December  13,  1782,  at  "  Brown's  Meeting  House" 
in  Augusta  County,  was  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the  ministry.  The 
ordination  sermon  from  Acts  20:28  was  preached  by  Rev.  Archibald  Scott, 
himself  the  ancestor  of  a  distinguished  line  of  Presbyterian  preachers,  and 
whose  son,  William  N.  Scott,  was  the  successor  of  Dr.  Hoge  in  the  minis- 
try in  Hardy  County. 

Of  the  ministry  of  Moses  Hoge  in  Hardy  County  we  have  already 
spoken  (pp.  45-46).  After  a  few  years'  service  there,  finding  the  climate 
of  the  South  Branch  injurious  to  his  health,  he  listened  to  the  overtures 
that  came  from  Shepherdstown  and,  in  the  autumn  of  1787,  he  reluctantly 
left  the  people  to  whom  he  had  become  devotedly  attached,  and  established 
his  home  in  this  village  on  the  Potomac.  His  distinguished  ability  as  a 
preacher  and  theologian  were  at  once  recognized,  and  the  Shepherdstown 
church  grew  rapidly  in  influence  and  numbers. 

It  is  not  known  whether  Dr.  Hoge  was  ever  properly  installed  as  pas- 
tor at  Shepherdstown.  The  probability  is  that  he  was  not.  The  fact  is 
that  his  relations  to  that  church  for  a  time  were  somewhat  anomalous.  He 
was  a  member  of  Lexington  Presbytery,  which  had  been  set  off  from 
Hanover  in  1786;  and  his  church  was  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Carlisle 
Presbytery,  which  had  been  erected  out  of  Donegal  the  same  year.  This 
condition  of  things  continued  for  several  years,  and  was  the  occasion  of 
some  unpleasant  complications — Mr.  Hoge  owing  allegiance  to  one  Presby- 
tery and  the  church  he  was  serving  to  another. 

In  October,  1789,  Col.  Matthew  Dill,  an  officer  of  the  Revolutionary 
Army,  and  a  ruling  elder,  "  sent  a  letter  to  Carlisle  Presbytery,  charging 
Mr.  Hoge  with  irregular  rites  in  celebrating  marriages;  and  Presbytery  ap- 
pointed Dr.  Davidson  to  write  to  Mr.  Hoge,  and  caution  him,"  etc.  The 
reply  of  Mr.  Hoge  to  this  letter  was  laid  before  Presbytery  the  next  April. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  67 

Of  the  nature  of  the  irregularity  charged,  and  the  character  of  the  corre- 
spondence, we  are  not  informed;  but  it  appears  that  the  explanation  of 
Mr.  Hoge  was  satisfactory  to  Presbytery,  and  the  matter  was  allowed  to 
drop.  At  the  next  meeting  of  Carlisle  Presbytery,  October,  1790,  Mr. 
Hoge  was  present,  and  was  invited  to  sit  as  a  corresponding  member  from 
Lexington  Presbytery.  His  troubles,  however,  were  not  yet  ended.  Com- 
plaint was  lodged  against  him  before  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  for  intru- 
sion, in  that  he  was  preaching  in  one  of  the  churches  of  that  Presbytery 
without  its  authority.  This  complaint,  it  seems,  induced  him  to  make 
another  visit  to  that  Presbytery  (April,  1791  J,  in  which  he  "  explained  his 
reasons  for  officiating  in  the  congregation  of  Shepherdstown,  and  requested 
permission  to  continue  his  labors  there,  while  retaining  his  membership  in 
Lexington  Presbytery,"  and  his  request  was  granted.  It  should  be  men- 
tioned here,  that  after  Dr.  Hoge  had  served  the  Shepherdstown  church 
with  remarkable  fidelity  for  nearly  two  years,  and  expected  to  continue  in 
that  service,  the  Carlise  Presbytery,  in  its  first  report  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly in  1789,  ignores  the  presence  of  Mr.  Hoge  and  reports  the  Shepherds- 
town church  as  ' '  vacant. ' ' 

The  eminent  ability  of  Dr.  Hoge  as  a  profound,  attractive,  and  safe 
expounder  of  the  Word  of  God,  came  to  be  recognized  at  an  early  period 
in  his  ministry.  His  varied  learning,  mature  judgment,  and  vigorous  intel- 
lect enabled  him  to  wield  an  influence  in  his  church  that  proved  both  pow- 
erful and  salutary.  Of  his  ability  as  a  preacher  there  was  among  his  con- 
temporaries but  one  opinion.  He  ranked  easily  with  the  ablest  of  his 
times.  And  yet  a  volume  of  his  sermons,  published  after  his  death,  fails 
to  sustain  this  high  estimate  of  his  pulpit  power.  These  published  sermons 
would  never  suggest  that  they  had  been  prepared  and  preached  by  one, 
to  whose  discourses  the  profoundest  thinkers  of  that  day  were  accustomed 
to  listen  with  admiration  and  delight.  And  his  friends  have  reason  to 
regret  that  sermons,  which  he  had  not  himself  prepared  for  publication, 
should  ever  have  been  committed  to  print.  While  sound  in  doctrine  and 
evangelical  in  sentiment,  they  give  no  idea  of  his  power  as  one  of  the  really 
great  preachers  of  his  day. 

It  was  in  the  winter  of  1791-2  that  Archibald  Alexander,  after  his 
licensure  in  Winchester,  and  while  filling  the  appointments  of  William  Hill, 
in  Jefferson  County,  made  frequent  visits  to  Mr.  Hoge  at  Shepherdstown. 
His  conversation  was  found  very  instructive  to  the  young  licentiate,  and 
his  books  very  attractive;  and  he  was  cheerfully  accorded  the  free  enjoy- 
ment of  both.     Many  years  afterward  he  put  on  record  his  great  indebted- 


68  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

ness  to  Dr.  Hoge  during  that  period  for  many  and  various  acts  of  kindness. 

When  the  General  Assembly  was  organized  in  1789,  Moses  Hoge  was 
sent  by  Lexington  Presbytery  as  its  first  commissioner.  He  represented 
the  same  Presbytery  in  the  Assemblies  of  1791  and  1793.  When  the 
Presbytery  of  Winchester  was  organized,  he  and  his  elder,  John  Kearsley, 
were  sent  as  its  first  commissioners  to  the  Assembly  of  1795. 

The  Presbytery  of  Winchester  was  organized  at  Winchester,  Va., 
December  4,  1794.  By  appointment  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  Mr.  Hoge 
presided  and  preached  the  opening  sermon.  He  was  chosen  the  first 
moderator,  and  also  the  first  stated  clerk  of  the  Presbytery.  In  1807  he 
was  elected  president  of  Hampden-Sidney  College,  to  succeed  Dr.  Archi- 
bald Alexander.  In  connection  with  this  office  he  was  made,  in  1812, 
Professor  of  Divinity,  under  the  appointment  of  the  Synod.  In  1810  the 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  by  the  College  of 
New  Jersey. 

Dr.  Hoge  was  twice  married;  first,  on  the  23d  of  August,  1783,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Poage,  of  Augusta  County;  a  woman  whose  rich  endow- 
ments of  body  and  mind  made  her  eminently  worthy  of  his  love.  She 
died  June  18,  1802,  on  her  way  to  the  Sweet  Springs,  to  which  resort  her 
husband  was  taking  her,  with  the  hope  that  her  declining  health  might  be 
restored.  It  should  be  mentioned  as  strikingly  characteristic  of  Dr.  Hoge, 
that,  at  her  funeral,  he  stood  at  the  head  of  her  grave,  and, with  wonderful 
pathos  and  effectiveness,  preached  Christ,  the  crucified,  as  the  Resurrec- 
tion and  the  Life.  She  left  four  children,  three  of  whom  became  distin- 
guished preachers.  On  the  25th  of  October,  1803,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Mrs.  Susannah  Hunt,  of  Charlotte  County,  the  widow  of  William 
Pitt  Hunt,  and  mother  of  Rev.  Thomas  P.  Hunt.  By  this  marriage  there 
were  no  children. 

The  only  likeness  of  Dr.  Hoge  that  I  have  ever  seen,  represents  him 
as  spare  in  person,  with  rather  sharp  features,  and  an  expression  of  coun- 
tenance both  grave  and  dignified.  His  friend  and  pupil,  the  late  Rev.  Dr. 
William  S.  Reid,  of  Lynchburg,  Va.,  describes  him  as  "of  middle  size, 
somewhat  tending  to  a  forward  bodily  inclination.  His  manners,  though 
without  much  artificial  polish,  were  familiar  and  agreeable;  expressing  very 
strongly  the  kindness  and  benignity  of  his  spin  .  He  possessed  a  mind  of 
uncommon  vigor,  capable  at  once  of  accurate  discrimination  and  profound 
research,  and  withal  richly  stored  with  the  treasures  of  scientific  knowl- 
edge. As  a  preacher  his  manner  was  ungraceful,  even  uncouth;  but  there 
was  so  much  depth  and  originality  of  thought,  such  richness  and  force  of 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  69 

illustration,  and  such  clear  and  cogent  reasoning,  that  the  awkwardness  of 
his  manner  was  very  soon  quite  overlooked  or  forgotten."  [Sprague's 
Annals,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  429.] 

A  fine  tribute  to  Dr.  Hoge,  from  the  pen  of  his  co-Presbyter,  Rev. 
Joseph  Glass,  I  must  not  forbear  to  quote.  In  answer  to  a  request  from 
Rev.  John  Blair  Hoge  for  help  in  preparing  a  memoir  of  his  father,  Mr. 
Glass  writes: 

' '  In  writing  his  history  I  should  not  know  how  to  begin;  beginning  it, 
I  should  not  know  how  to  end.  It  was  not  that  he  was  unlike  other  men, 
but  that  he  was  always  like  himself;  not  that  he  was  zealously  engaged  in 
doing  good  today,  but  that  in  doing  good  he  was  zealously  engaged  every 
day;  not  that  he  performed  duty,  but  that  he  never  tired  in  performing  it; 
not  that  he  put  his  hand  to  the  plough,  but  that  he  never  looked  back; 
not  that  he  knew  how  to  do  good,  but  that  he  knew  not  how  to  do  harm: 
and  it  was  on  a  foundation,  composed  of  these  singular  materials,  that  he 
erected  the  monument  of  an  unspotted  life.  It  is  from  the  top  of  this 
monument  that  his  spirit  looks  down  upon  the  insignificance  of  conquerors 
and  kings,  and  proclaims  to  the  world  that  the  love  of  God  is  more  durable 
than  polished  brass." 

Dr.  Hoge  died  July  5,  1820,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia;  having  gone 
there  as  a  commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly;  and  his  remains  are 
interred  in  the  burying  ground  of  the  Third  Presbyterian  Church  of  that 
city,  by  the  side  of  those  of  his  intimate  friend,  Dr.  John  Blair  Smith,  a 
former  president  of  Hampden-Sidney  College. 


XIL  ELK  BRANCH. 

The  present  Elk  Branch  church  is  at  Duffields  in  Jefferson  County, 
W.  Va.,  a  station  on  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railway,  six  miles  west  of 
Harpers  Ferry.  The  house  of  worship  is  on  the  north  side  of  the  Elk 
Branch,  a  small  tributary  of  the  Potomac,  and  from  which  the  church  takes 
its  name.  But  the  old  church,  with  the  history  of  which  we  are  here  con- 
cerned, was  half  a  mile  west  of  the  present  site,  and  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Branch,  near  the  large  spring  formerly  enclosed  in  the  Block  House, 
which  the  early  settlers  built  for  protection  from  the  hostile  Indians. 


70  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

The  name  of  this  church  first  comes  to  our  notice  in  the  Records  of 
Donegal,  April  11,  1769.  The  prominence  it  evidently  had  even  then,  and 
the  decided  importance  it  soon  attained,  suggest  either  a  much  earlier  organ- 
ization than  is  indicated  by  the  above  date,  or  else  the  recent  organization 
of  a  colony  of  considerable  strength  set  off  from  an  older  church.  The 
alternative  of  an  earlier  organization  is  improbable,  because  when  first 
named  in  the  minutes  it  is  called  "  Elk  Branch  in  Virginia;"  not,  as  in  the 
case  of  ' '  Tuscarora  in  Virginia, ' '  to  distinguish  it  from  another  church  of 
the  same  name  in  Pennsylvania — for  there  was  no  other  church  of  this 
name — but  to  designate  its  locality  as  a  church  hitherto  unknown  to  Pres- 
bytery. The  other  alternative  offers  the  more  probable  solution.  If  the 
theory  we  have  already  advanced  (pp.  32,  33)  is  correct,  that  the  old 
Potomack  ' '  church  was  about  this  time  re-organized  under  the  new  name 
of  "Shepherdstown,"  by  which  name  that  town  now  began  to  be  called, 
then  the  idea  is  very  reasonable  that  the  members  of  that  church  residing 
on  Elk  Branch,  now  quite  numerous,  should  ask  for  a  separate  and  more 
convenient  organization  for  themselves.  And  if  they  were  set  off  in  a 
body  from  the  parent  church,  it  will  account  for  the  prominence  with  which 
this  church  sprang  so  suddenly  into  notice.  It  did  not  have  to  grow,  as 
most  other  churches  of  that  day  did,  from  feeble  beginnings  and  by  slow 
accessions,  but  started  as  a  fully  organized  church. 

This  opinion  is  sustained  by  the  fact  that  there  was  already  a  church 
building  at  the  Link  Spring.  This  house,  built  of  logs,  was  in  a  state  of 
decay  in  1792,  which  is  proof  that  it  must  have  been  erected  a  long  time 
before  1769.  And  it  is  fair  to  assume  that  in  that  house  the  Presbyterians 
on  Elk  Branch  were  accustomed  to  hold  occasional,  if  not  stated,  worship. 
This  opinion  is  further  sustained  by  the  activity  in  church  life  displayed  at 
once  by  this  people  in  their  persistent  and  successful  efforts  to  obtain  for 
themselves  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel,  as  well  as  by  the  early  period  at 
which  they  were  able  to  settle  a  pastor  of  their  own.  Appearing  in  Pres- 
bytery for  the  first  time  in  April,  1769,  we  find  them  present  and  asking 
for  supplies  at  every  stated  meeting,  and  even  at  some  adjourned  meetings, 
during  the  next  seven  years.  And  while  "  supplications  "  from  other 
places,  though  more  rarely  made,  were  not  always  successful,  Elk  Branch 
seems  always  to  have  obtained  the  supplies  it  asked  for. 

In  answer  to  their  first  application  the  Rev.  Robert  Cooper  was  sent 
them;  a  few  weeks  later  Rev.  Hezekiah  Balch;  and  after  that,  at  each 
meeting  of  Presbytery,  there  are  several  appointments  made  for  Elk  Branch. 
Among  the  ministers  sent  for  the  next  six  or  seven  .years — and  some  of 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  71 

them  were  sent  very  frequently — were  Messrs.  Cooper,  Balch,  Slemons, 
Vance,  Craighead,  Rhea,  Lang,  Hoge,  McKnight,  Thompson,  Hunter, 
McConnell  and  others.  It  is  interesting  to  mention,  as  showing  the  genu- 
ine old-fashioned  Presbyter ianism  of  these  Elk  Branch  people,  and  also  a 
carefully-observed  custom  of  our  church  at  that  day;  that  in  several  instan- 
ces, when  asking  for  supplies,  they  put  in  the  special  request  that  the  min- 
ister sent  should  catechize  the  church;  and  in  this  request  we  have  reason 
to  believe  that  the  Larger  as  well  as  the  Shorter  Catechism  was  included. 
What  previous  efforts,  if  any,  were  made  by  this  church  to  obtain  a 
pastor,  we  are  not  informed  ;  but  at  the  meeting  of  April,  1776,  a  call  for 
the  pastoral  services  of  Licentiate  John  McKnight  was  presented.  The 
commissioners  from  Elk  Branch,  presenting  this  call,  were  John  White 
(father  of  the  distinguished  Judge  Robert  White,  of  Winchester),  James 
McAllister  and  John  Wright.  The  salary  per  annum  promised  was  £132, 
7s.,  subscribed,  and  £120,  Pennsylvania  currency,  pledged.  This  young 
preacher,  it  would  seem,  was  in  great  demand,  as  two  other  calls  from 
churches  in  Pennsylvania  were  presented  for  him  at  the  same  meeting,  and 
each  of  these  offered  a  salary  considerably  larger  than  that  from  Elk 
Branch.  The  three  calls  were  placed  in  his  hands,  and  at  the  next  meet- 
ing (June,  1776)  "Mr.  McKnight,  being  called  upon  by  Presbytery  to  an- 
swer the  calls  in  his  hands,  accepted  that  from  Elk  Branch."  No  further 
action  in  this  matter  was  taken  until  the  stated  meeting  in  October,  when 
"Presbytery  agreed  to  meet  at  Elk  Branch,  Tuesday,  December  3,  1776, 
to  ordain  Mr.  McKnight."  Accordingly,  Presbytery  met,  as  appointed,  in 
"the  Elk  Branch  Presbyterian  Church."  Present— Seven  ministers  and 
four  Ruling  Elders.  Absent — nine  ministers.  The  meeting  was  opened 
with  the  trial  sermon  of  Mr.  Mcknight  from  Heb.  6:1 — 8.  All  his  trials 
were  successfully  passed,  and  on  Thursday  morning,  December  5,  1776, 
he  was  set  apart  to  the  full  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry  and  installed  the 
first  pastor  of  the  Elk  Branch  church.  Rev.  James  Lang  preached  the 
ordination  sermon  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Balch  delivered  the  charge.  Mr. 
McKnight  continued  for  several  years  the  beloved  and  faithful  pastor  of 
this  church,  feeding  his  own  people  with  "the  finest  of  the  wheat,"  and 
doing  his  part  in  supplying  the  vacancies  and  destitutions  around  him,  and 
often  carrying  the  Gospel  into  "the  regions  beyond."  But  in  October, 
1782,  he  felt  constrained  to  tender  his  resignation  on  account  of  serious 
arrears  in  salary.  When  we  remember  that  during  the  whole  of  his  min- 
istry here  the  Revolutionary  War  was  in  progress,  the  business  of  the 
country  interrupted  and  its  money  almost  worthless,  we  need  not   be   sur- 


72  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

prised  that  his  people  were  in  such  financial  straits  as  to  be  unable  to  meet 
their  pecuniary  obligations  to  their  pastor.  But  as  the  same  conditions 
prevailed  almost  everywhere,  and  yet  pastors  were  in  some  measure  paid, 
it  is  quite  possible  that  this  particular  church  was  not  free  from  blame  in 
allowing  the  salary  to  fall  so  far  behind  that  their  pastor  was  compelled  to 
leave  them. 

As  proof  of  his  popularity  as  a  preacher.no  sooner  was  it  known  that  he 
was  released  from  Elk  Branch  than  strenuous  efforts  were  made,  in  numer- 
ous vacancies,  to  secure  his  services.  Calls  were  at  once  sent  him  from 
Bullskin,  Cool  Spring,  South  Branch  and  Patterson's  Creek  in  Virginia,  as 
well  as  from  several  places  in  Pennsylvania.  He  accepted  the  call  from 
Marsh  Creek  ('Gettysburg)  Pa.,  and  was  settled  there. 

During  all  his  ministry,  the  Rev.  Dr.  McKnight  was  a  conspicuous 
figure  in  the  church.  He  was  a  man  of  distinguished  ability  and  great  in- 
fluence. He  was  born  near  Carlisle,  Pa.,  October  1,  1754,  and  was  grad- 
uated from  Princeton  College  in  1773.  Having  decided  to  enter  the  min- 
istry, he  was  licensed  by  Donegal  Presbytery,  April  12,  1775,  and  or- 
dained by  the  same  Presbytery  December  5,  1776.  After  his  pastorate  of 
six  years  at  Elk  Branch  ( 1776-1782 )  and  of  six  years  also  at  Marsh  Creek 
(1783-1789)  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Collegiate  churches  in  New  York 
City  as  co-pastor  with  Rev.  Dr.  John  Rodgers,  where  he  continued  for 
twenty  years  in  the  earnest  and  faithful  discharge  of  his  ministerial  duties, 
and  for  several  years  preaching  three  times  each  Sabbath.  On  account  of 
some  changes  in  his  collegiate  relations,  which  he  did  not  approve,  and  on 
account  also  of  enfeebled  health,  he  resigned  his  pastorate  in  1810  and  re- 
tired to  his  farm  near  Chambersburg  in  the  Cumberland  Valley.  Soon 
after  this  the  Rocky  Spring  church,  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  home,  be- 
came vacant,  and  he  served  it  for  several  years  as  stated  supply,  but  with 
as  much  fidelity  as  if  he  had  been  its  installed  pastor.  In  1815  he  was 
persuaded  reluctantly  to  accept  the  presidency  of  Dickinson  College;  but 
because  of  its  serious  financial  embarrassments  he  resigned  his  position  at 
the  end  of  a  year  and  returned  to  his  farm,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life 
was  spent,  preaching  as  opportunity  offered  and  his  health  would  permit. 
He  died  October  21,  1823,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his  age,  "in  the  full  ex- 
ercise of  his  mental  powers  and  in  the  lively  assurance  of  a  future  glorious 
life." 

A  few  weeks  before  his  installation  at  Elk  Branch,  Mr.  McKnight  was 
happily  married  to  Miss  Susan  Brown,  of  Franklin  County,  Pa.  Ten 
children  were  the  fruit  of  this  union,  two  of  whom  entered  the  ministry. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  73 

In  1791  he  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Yale  College,  and  in 
1795  was  chosen  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly. 

In  the  course  of  his  ministry,  Dr.  McKnight  published  a  number  of 
"occasional  sermons."  Soon  after  his  settlement  in  New  York,  at  the 
urgent  request  of  some  prominent  ministers,  he  published  a  volume  on 
"Faith,"  consisting  of  six  sermons,  which  he  had  preached  in  different 
places.  In  connection  with  this  volume,  Dr.  A.  Alexander  relates  an  in- 
teresting fact  ("Life,"  pp.  119,  120).  While  in  the  Lower  Valley  in 
1791-2,  he  writes:  "I  preached  frequently  for  old  Mr.  Vance,  of  Tusca- 
rora,  who  then  lay  upon  his  death  bed.  In  this  congregation  I  met  with 
one  Robert  Campbell,  whose  memory  was  prodigious.  The  Rev.  Dr. Mc- 
Knight had  formerly  been  his  pastor  and  was  held  by  him  in  great  admi- 
ration. Campbell  could  repeat  many  of  the  Doctor's  sermons  verbatim. 
When  Dr.  McKnight  resolved  to  publish  several  sermons  on  Faith,  he  had 
lost  the  manuscript  of  one  among  them.  He  had  recourse  to  Mr.  Camp- 
bell, who  supplied  what  was  missing,  and,  as  I  was  informed,  with  great 
exactness." 

Dr.  McKnight  had  a  rich  vien  of  humor,  though  he  did  not  often  in- 
dulge it.  He  is  undoubtedly  the  original  author  of  that  well-known  pleas- 
antry which  has  been  ascribed  to  many  different  ministers  of  distinction — 
conspicuously  to  Dr.  Plumer  of  Virginia — and  which  some  others,  who  are 
not  distinguished,  have  sometimes  plagiarized.  In  one  of  his  early  charges 
he  had  just  ordained  three  new  elders,  one  of  whom  was  appointed  to  go 
with  him  to  Presbytery  the  next  week.  The  evening  before  they  were  to 
set  off,  this  elder  came  to  his  pastor,  much  worried  in  mind,  to  inquire 
what  responsible  duties  should  be  expected  of  him  as  a  delegate  to  Pres- 
bytery. Perceiving  his  embarrassment,  the  Doctor  assumed  a  serious  air, 
and  replied  :  "You  are  to  be  here  in  time  to  see  that  my  horse  is  properly 
fed,  and  groomed,  and  saddled,  and  ready  for  us  to  start ;  you  are  to  go 
along  with  me  and  be  ready  to  open  and  shut  all  gates,  to  let  down  and 
put  up  all  bars  ;  you  are  to  go  on  before  and  order  dinner  ;  you  are  to  pay 
all  bills  ;  and  then  to  vote  always  as  I  do."  This  playfulness  relieved  the 
anxiety  of  the  new  elder,  whose  countenance  changed  from  its  solemn 
gravity  to  a  smile  ;  and  then  he  was  informed  what  his  real  duties  would  be. 

Dr.  McKnight  has  been  described  "As  a  man  of  slender  person, 
above  medium  height  and  of  a  considerate  and  reflective  countenance,  in- 
dicative of  deep  and  protracted  thought.  His  bearing  and  address  were 
graceful  and  dignified,  without  any  manifestation  of  overbearing  pride  or 
haughtiness.     He  was  at  ease  in  every  society  and  could  adapt  himself  to 


74  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

all  cirumstances  and  to  all  classes  of  persons.  As  a  preacher  he  was  calm, 
dispassionate,  with  little  variation  of  tone  or  gesture,  yet  not  monotonou 
or  unimpressive,  but  with  a  manner  well  adapted  to  his  matter,  which  was 
generally  a  lucid  and  logical  exposition  of  some  important  Scripture  truth. 
He  was  a  zealous  expounder  and  defender  of  the  Calvinistic  faith,  which 
he  was  careful  always  to  enforce  by  a  due  citation  of  Scripture  passages" 
(Duffield,  condensed  by  Norcross). 

When  Elk  Branch  became  vacant  by  the  resignation  of  Mr.  McKnight 
it  renewed  its  application  to  Donegal  Presbytery  for  supplies.  These  Rec- 
ords, however,  contain  but  one  such  application,  and  in  the  Records  of  Car- 
lisle, after  its  organization  in  1786,there  is  not  one.  In  April,  1783,  it  asks  for 
"supplies  to  be  equally  divided  between  Elk  Branch  and  Shepherdstown." 
At  the  same  meeting  Shepherdstown  made  the  same  request.  This  is  signifi- 
cant, as  showing  the  influence  of  old  associations.  What  answer  Presbytery 
returned  to  this  petition  we  are  not  informed, but  from  the  silence  of  the  Rec- 
ords for  several  years,  it  is  quite  probable  that  some  arrangement  was  made 
for  the  joint  supply  of  these  two  churches.  It  is  a  fact  that  from  this  time  for  a 
period  of  about  forty  years,  Elk  Branch,  as  a  church,  drops  completely 
out  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Records.  Neither  Carlisle  nor  Lexington  men- 
tions it  in  its  official  report  to  the  General  Assembly  (  Minutes  of  Assembly, 
1789  and  1792-3).  Nor  does  this  name  appear  in  the  list  of  churches 
set  off  by  the  Synod  of  Virginia  ( 1794)  to  constitute  the  Presbytery  of 
Winchester.  The  explanation  of  this  is  furnished  in  part  by  the  following 
extract  from  the  Presbyterial  History  of  this  church  :  "After  Mr.  Mc- 
Knight left,  Donegal  Presbytery  continued  to  supply  Elk  Branch  until 
1792,  when,  by  the  consent  of  the  people,  at  the  house  of  Peter  Martin,  Elk 
Branch  was  partitioned,  one  part,  with  its  Elders  and  people,  going  under 
the  care  of  Rev.  Moses  Hoge  at  Shepherdstown,  and  the  other  part  going 
under  the  care  of  Rev.  William  Hill,  of  Bullskin  to  unite  in  forming  the 
new  church  in  the  new  town  of  Charlestown,  the  county  seat  of  Jefferson 
County,  W.Va."  And  so  one  of  our  oldest,  and  at  one  time, one  of  our  most 
important  churches  disappears  from  the  Records  until  its  reorganization  in 
1833. 


«&» 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  75 

Beginning  with  the  year  1768,  and  continuing  for  ten  years  or  more, 
the  Presbytery  displayed  special  activity  in  its  evangelistic  work.  Not 
only  was  it  diligent  in  supplying  congregations  already  formed  and  asking 
its  aid,  but  it  went  out  into  regions  from  which  no  request  for  supplies 
came.  Some  of  these  missionary  expeditions  seem  to  have  added  nothing 
to  the  strength  or  growth  of  the  church.  There  were  several  points  within 
the  bounds  of  what  was  afterwards  Winchester  Presbytery,  to  which 
preachers  were  sent  once,  or  more  frequently  ;  but  where  no  sufficient  en- 
couragement was  found  for  continuing  to  send  them.  Of  some  of  these 
places  our  information  is  very  indefinite — of  some  of  them,  indeed,  their 
location  is  not  definitely  known.  Some  of  them  were  west  of  the  Blue 
Ridge,  and  others  east  of  it,  but  in  territory  that,  prior  to  1859,  belonged 
to  our  Presbytery.  We  will  mention  them  in  the  order  in  which  they  are 
found  in  the  Donegal  Records. 

U  Lost  River. 

This  point,  as  we  interpret  the  minutes,  is  mentioned  twice  in  the  Rec- 
ords ;  first,  in  October,  1768,  when  Rev,  John  Hoge  is  directed  to  "supply 
at  Mr.  Wilson's,  near  Lost  River."  This  Mr.  Wilson,  we  have  reason  to 
believe,  lived  at  or  near  what  is  now  known  as  "Lost  City,"  and  where,  in 
1899,  a  church  was  organized  by  our  Presbytery.  Nearly  fifty  years  be- 
fore that  organization  there  was  occasional  preaching  at  that  point. 
When  the  Rev.  Dr.  W.  V.  Wilson  was  pastor  at  Moorefield  he  held  a 
protracted  meeting  there  every  summer  ;  and  the  family  that  was  most  in- 
terested in  having  these  services  was  named  "Wilson."  Again,  in  April, 
1769,  a  request  went  up  to  Presbytery  from  Lost  River  for  supplies.  We 
are  not  informed  who  was  sent.  Though  the  designation  here  is  not  in  the 
same  terms  as  before,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  each  of  these  min- 
utes refers  to  the  same  place.  "Lost  River"  is  not  mentioned  again  and 
yet  it  is  altogether  probable  that  it  was  visited  by  the  supplies  that  were 
afterward  sent  to  "places  adjacent  to  the  South  Branch."  The  Lost  River 
is  that  remarkable  stream  which  rises  near  Howard's  Lick,  in  Hardy 
County,  and  after  flowing  in  a  northeasterly  direction  for  some  fifty  miles, 
suddenly  disappears  at  the  base  of  a  mountain  near  Wardensville,  and  then 
at  a  point  about  three  miles  distant,  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountain,  re- 
appears as  the  Capon  River  and  flows  on  to  the  Potomac.  While  in  the 
Records  to  which  we  have  access,  no  further  mention  is  made  of  this  place 
after  1769;  yet  it  must  have  received  considerable  attention  a  few  years 
later  from  other  sources — perhaps  from  the  Presbytery  of  Lexington,  and 


76  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

in  connection  with  the  work  at  Moorefield.  Through  the  labors  of  parties 
unknown  to  us  now,  it  had  grown  into  a  congregation  of  such  importance 
that  ' '  Lost  River ' '  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the  ' '  churches  ' '  set  off  by  the 
Synod  of  Virginia  to  constitute  the  Presbytery  of  Winchester. 

2.  North  River. 

This  is  the  next  one  of  those  places  of  which  we  are  now  '  speaking. 
In  the  minutes  for  April  11,  1769,  North  River  is  mentioned  as  asking  for 
supplies.  This  River  is  in  Hampshire  County,  and  is  the  main  tributary 
of  the  Capon.  The  confluence  of  the  two  rivers  is  called  "Forks  of  Capon," 
where  a  Presbyterian  church  was  established  about  1768.  The  point  on  the 
North  River  for  which  supplies  are  now  asked  is  not  designated,  but  was  prob- 
ably near  our  present  North  River  church,  where  at  a  very  early  day  a  con- 
siderable body  of  people,  mostly  Presbyterians,  had  settled.  This  church  is 
in  Hampshire  County,  and  while  North  River  is  not  again  mentioned  by 
name  it  may  very  well  have  been  included  in  the  '  'various  places  in  Hamp- 
shire County, Va.,"  to  which,  the  minutes  tell  us,  supplies  were  sometimes 
sent.     We  have  now  three  organized  churches  along  that  river. 


3.  Warm  Springs  in  Virginia. 

This  is  another  point  mentioned  but  once  in  the  Records.  There  is  noth- 
ing in  that  mention  to  indicate  with  certainty  the  locality  of  these  Springs ; 
nor  have  we  been  able  to  obtain  any  information  that  would  satisfactorily 
fix  their  location.  They  may  be  the  "Warm  Springs"  in  Morgan  County, 
though  we  have  nothing  but  the  name  to  suggest  it,  as  we  have  no  knowl- 
edge of  any  Presbyterian  settlement  there  at  that  time.  The  only  clue  to 
their  location,  and  that  a  very  slight  one,  is  that  in  the  minute  in  which 
the  name  appears, June,  1772,  Rev.  Mr.  Thorn  is  "ordered  to  supply  Alex- 
andria and  Warm  Springs  in  Virginia."  Ordinarily,  though  not  always, 
such  an  order  indicates  that  the  places  to  be  supplied  are  in  the  same  gen- 
eral region  of  country.  That  clue  would  place  these  Springs  some- 
where east  of  the  Blue  Ridge  ;  and  the  only  place  in  our  eastern  territory 
known  to  us  that  would  in  any  way  answer  to  this  name,  are  the  Fauquier 
White  Sulphur  Springs,  six  miles  southwest  of  Warrenton.  We  have  no 
assurance,  hovever,  that  these  are  the  springs  meant,  and  as  the  name  oc- 
curs but  this  once,  and  no  church  was  planted  at  the  place,  it  is  not  a  mat- 
ter of  much  importance  that  we  are  not  able  to  locate  it  with  accuracy. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  77 

4.  North  Branch  of  Rappahannock. 

Until  a  few  years  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  War  for  Independ- 
ence the  evangelistic  efforts  of  Donegal  Presbytery  in  Virginia  were  ex- 
pended almost  exclusively  in  the  region  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge  ;  but  after 
that  time  a  very  active  interest  was  taken  in  that  part  of  Eastern  Virginia 
lying  between  the  Potomac  River  and  the  Rappahannock.  As  this  section 
is  a  part  of  the  original  territory  of  Winchester  Presbytery,  the  missionary 
work  of  Donegal  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge  claims  a  place  in  these  historical 
sketches. 

The  first  certain  mention  of  any  place  east  of  the  Ridge  is  '  'The  North 
Branch  of  the  Rappahannock,  in  Culpeper  County,  Va."  This  is  in  April, 
1772,  when  a  request  for  supplies  is  sent  from  this  place  ;  and  in  answer 
to  this  request  Mr.  Slemons  was  directed  to  preach  there  the  fourth  Sab- 
bath in  August  and  Mr.  Craighead  the  fourth  Sabbath  in  September.  The 
probable  location  of  this  place  we  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain, nor  does 
the  name,  in  this  precise  form,  appear  again  in  the  Records.  It  is  possible 
that  this  records  the  beginning  of  Presbyterian  preaching  in  Culpeper  county, 
as  soon  after  this  date  Culpeper  Court-House  comes  prominently  into 
notice. 

5.  Gourdvine. 

This  place  is  mentioned  in  the  same  minute  with  the  last — April,  1772. 
Mr.  Amos  Thompson  was  ordered  to  supply  one  Sabbath  at  discretion, 
Mr.  Slemons  the  first  Sabbath  in  September,  and  Mr.  Craighead  the  first 
Sabbath  of  October.  At  a  meeting  of  Presbytery  in  June  of  the  same 
year  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thorn  is  appointed  an  additional  supply  ;  and  after  that 
the  name  does  not  appear  again.  Gourdvine  is  on  the  North  Branch  of 
the  Rappahannock  River,  in  Culpeper  County,  and  very  near  the  line 
which  separates  that  county  from  Rappahannock.  That  it  is  a  different 
place  from  that  which  is  definitely  called  the  "North  Branch  of  the  Rap- 
pahannock" is  evident  from  the  fact  that,  when  Mr.  Slemons  was  sent  to 
supply  these  two  places,  he  was  directed  to  preach  one  Sabbath  on  the 
"North  Branch"  and  the  next  Sabbath  at  "Gourdvine." 

6.  Turkey  Run. 

"  Turkey  Run,  in  Fauquier  County,"  is  another  place  several  times 
mentioned  as  supplied  by  Presbytery,  but  at  which  no  church  seems  to 
have  been  established.  This  "Run"  is  a  few  miles  east  of  Warrenton. 
Old  "Parson  Williamson"  spent  the  most  of  his  ministry   in   that  region, 


78  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

and  his  daughter,  still  living  there  at  a  very  advanced  age,  learned  from 
her  father  that  before  and  after  A.  D.,  1800,  Presbyterian  services  were 
regularly  held  at  a  certain  point  on  that  stream  until  they  were  transferred 
to  the  town  of  Warrenton.  In  April,  1778,  ministerial  supplies  were  first 
asked  for,  and  Rev.  Samuel  Waugh,  who  "  at  his  own  request  had  been 
granted  leave  to  itinerate  in  Virginia  ' '  during  the  three  summer  months  of 
that  year, '  'was  recommended  especially  to  supply  some  Sabbaths  at  Tur- 
key Run  and  parts  adjacent."  At  the  same  meeting  "  the  Committee  on 
Supplies  "  was  directed  to  arrange  for  preaching  at  various  places,  and 
among  them  Turkey  Run  is  especially  named.  And  from  subsequent  min- 
utes we  find  that  this  committee  was  accustomed  to  provide  supplies  year 
by  year  for  this  and  other  places. 

Turkey  Run  is  not  specially  named  again  in  the  Records;  but  it  no 
doubt  shared  in  the  services  which  .itinerating  ministers  rendered  to  many 
congregations  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  Rev.  Mr.  Waugh,  e.  g.,  spent  the 
summer  of  1779  "  traveling  and  preaching  in  the  lower  parts  of  Maryland 
and  in  Virginia."  In  April,  1780,  Rev.  David  Bard,  whose  home  was  in 
Loudoun  County,  "  had  leave  to  supply  Virginia  vacancies  at  discretion, 
both  as  to  time  and  place."  And  in  October  of  the  same  year  the  order 
was  renewed  to  Messrs.  Waugh  and  Bard  to  do  further  missionary  work  in 
Virginia.  It  is  supposed  that  the  church  in  Warrenton,  Va.,  is  the  out- 
come of  these  early  services  at  "  Turkey  Run  in  Fauquier  County." 

7.  The  Parish  of  Shelburn  in  Virginia* 

This  parish  was  in  the  southwest  angle  of  Loudoun  County,  twelve 
miles  southwest  of  Leesburg,  and  eight  miles  west  of  Middleburg,  and  is 
now  known  as  "  The  Glebe."  In  October,  1780,  requests  for  supplies 
were  sent  up  to  Presbytery  from  this  parish,  and  "from  the  parish  of 
Cameron  in  Loudoun  County."  These  names  are  suggestive  of  Episco- 
pacy; but,  of  course,  it  is  not  to  be  understood  that  the  requests  came  from 
Episcopalions.  They  came  from  Presbyterians  residing  in  those  parishes. 
In  answer  to  them  the  Rev.  Samuel  Waugh  was  sent  to  supply  the  parish 
of  Shelburn  "  and  parts  adjacent."  From  this  parish  the  application  does 
not  seem  to  have  been  renewed;  and  we  have  no  knowledge  that  any 
Presbyterian  organization  ever  existed  there. 


This  completes  these  fragmentary  accounts, and  we  resume  our  Sketches 
of  Churches. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  79 


XIIL  ALEXANDRIA. 

This  church,  which  has  since  become  so  important,  first  appears  in 
the  Donegal  Records  April,  1772.  From  the  manner  in  which  it  is  intro- 
duced, it  may  be  inferred  that  an  organized  church  may  have  already  ex- 
isted there.  There  is  no  request  for  a  preacher  to  be  sent,  but  the  Rev. 
James  Hunt  is  ordered  to  supply  Alexandria  one  Sabbath  at  his  discretion. 
At  the  same  meeting  appointments  were  also  made  for  Rev.  Amos  Thomp- 
son and  Rev.  James  Lang  to  preach  at  Alexandria.  At  the  June  meeting 
the  same  year  the  Rev.  William  Thorn  was  ordered  to  supply  the  church. 
This  last  appointment  led  to  a  call  for  Mr.  Thom  from  the  Alexandria 
church,  which  he  accepted,  and  the  same  year  became  its  pastor. 

Rev.  William  Thom  was  licensed  by  Donegal  Presbytery  October  10, 
1771.  The  next  year  he  received  a  call  from  the  congregation  in  Sherman's 
Valley,  Pa.  But  though  "  the  call  was  made  in  the  most  unanimous  man- 
ner, without  one  dissenting  voice,"  Mr.  Thom  declined  it,  and  accepted 
the  call  from  Alexandria,  where,  on  the  third  day  of  December  of  the 
same  year  (1772)  he  was  ordained  and  installed.  His  ministry  in  this 
church  was  very  brief,  as  he  died  before  the  close  of  the  following  year. 

At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  next  succeeding  his  death  (April,  1774), 
the  Alexandria  church  made  special  application  for  Rev.  John  Black,  who 
had  been  licensed  by  Donegal  Presbytery  in  October  of  the  preceding  year. 
They  failed,  however,  to  secure  him  as  pastor,  as  he  accepted  a  call  from 
Gettysburg,  Pa.,  where  he  was  ordained  and  installed  August,  1775. 

This  church  remained  vacant,  though  not  unsupplied,  for  more  than 
six  years  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Thom.  Its  supplies  during  this  period  were 
obtained  mainly  from  other  sources  than  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  though 
Donegal  was  not  neglectful  of  this  vacancy.  In  October,  1774,  Rev.  Amos 
Thompson  was  commissioned  to  supply  the  Virginia  vacancies  and  his 
labors  were  given  chiefly  to  eastern  Virginia.  In  June,  1775,  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Lang  and  Rhea  were  directed  to  spend  some  time  in  similar  work 
in  the  same  field.  In  October,  1776,  Rev.  James  Hunt  was  sent  as  a 
special  supply  to  Alexandria,  and  in  April,  1777,  Rev.  John  McKnight  was 
sent;  but  no  pastor  was  obtained  until  1780,  when  the  Rev.  Isaac  S.  Keith, 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  was  called. 

Of  Mr.  Keith  very  little  is  known,  aside  from  his  pastorate  in  this 
church.  He  was  licensed  by  the  first  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  some 
time  between  May,  1777,  and  May,  1779.     In  1780  he  was  ordained  by 


80  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

the  same  Presbytery,  and  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  that  he 
might  accept  the  call  to  the  church  in  Alexandria.  He  was  received  by 
that  Presbytery  October  18,  1780,  and  soon  after  was  installed  pastor  of 
this  church.  In  May,  1786,  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  was  dissolved,  and 
Mr.  Keith  and  his  church  were  assigned  to  the  new  Presbytery  of  Balti- 
more. In  the  report  of  that  Presbytery  to  the  General  Assembly  at  its 
organization  in  1789,  Mr.  Keith  is  reported  as  a  member,  and  as  pastor  of 
the  Alexandria  church.  After  this  his  name  disappears,  but  whether  by 
death  or  otherwise  we  are  not  told. 

In  the  spring  of  1789  Rev.  James  Muir  was  called  to  this  church,  and 
continued  its  pastor  until  his  death  in  1820. 

Dr.  Muir  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  the  Presbyterian  minis- 
ters of  that  period.  He  was  born  in  Scotland  April  12,  1757.  Both  his 
father  and  grandfather  were  ministers.  He  was  graduated  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Glasgow  March,  1776,  and  prosecuted  his  theological  studies  at 
Edinburg.  He  was  licensed  in  London  May,  1779,  by  six  clergymen, who 
styled  themselves  ' '  dissenting  ministers  x  x  conforming  to  the  doc- 
trines and  practice  of  the  Church  of  Scotland."  On  the  tenth  of  August, 
1781,  the  same  body  of  ministers  ordained  him  to  go  as  an  evangelist  to 
the  Island  of  Bermuda.  He  resided  in  Bermuda,  teaching  and  preaching 
until  1788,  when  he  embarked  for  Scotland;  but  the  vessel  was  driven  back 
in  distress,  and  finally  landed  him  in  New  York.  After  preaching  for  sev- 
eral months  in  that  city,  he,  in  the  spring  of  1789,  accepted  a  call  to  the 
Alexandria  church,  where  the  remainder  of  his  ministry  and  of  his  life  was 
spent.  Dr.  Muir  was  a  man  of  unusual  ability  and  learning;  but,  "  owing 
to  a  strong  Scotch  accent,  and  a  slight  defect  in  utterance,  he  could  not  be 
called  a  popular  preacher,  yet  his  sermons  were  rich  in  Divine  truth,  and 
were  characterized  by  condensed  thought,  logical  arrangement,  and  great 
simplicity  and  perspicuity  of  style."  He  is  described  as  "  a  short,  thick- 
set man,  rather  heavy  in  his  movements,  of  a  grave,  but  most  attractive 
expression  of  countenance,  and  as  gentle  and  guileless  as  any  human  being" 
could  be.  And  yet  in  the  closing  years  of  his  ministry  his  church  ' '  was 
rent  with  factions  and  divided.  Nearly  half  his  congregation,  inflamed 
with  bitterness  and  wrath,  separated,  and  constituted  a  new  church." 

He  died  in  perfect  peace,  August  8,  1820,  and  was  buried  in  the 
church,  just  beneath  the  pulpit  from  which  he  had  so  faithfully  preached 
for  more  than  thirty-one  years.  By  his  own  request,  he  was  buried  dressed 
in  his  gown  and  bands,  and  in  a  grave  thirteen  feet  deep. 

When  the  General  Assembly,  in  1792,  made  the  Potomac  River  the 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  81 

dividing  line  between  the  Synods  of  Philadelphia  and  Virginia,  they  made 
an  exception  in  the  case  of  the  Alexandria  church,  leaving  it  where  it  had 
been  for  the  last  six  years — in  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore  and  Synod  of 
Philadelphia;  and  in  that  connection  it  remained  until  1853,  when,  at  its 
own  request,  it  was  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Winchester  and  the 
Synod  of  Virginia. 


XIV.  HOPEWELL. 

This  is  the  original  name  of  our  church  in  Smithfield,  Jefferson  County, 
W.  Va.  As  there  was  another,  and  much  older,  church  of  this  name  in 
Donegal,  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  determine  from  the  minutes,  whether 
the  reference  is  to  the  church  in  Pennsylvania,  or  to  the  one  in  Virginia. 
Yet,  ordinarily,  we  are  able  to  distinguish  them.  "  Hopewell"  has  by 
some  been  confounded  with  "  The  Head  of  Bullskin."  But  the  two  names 
refer  to  different  organizations.  A  careful  examination  makes  it  clear  that 
the  phrase  "  Head  of  Bullskin,"  which  is  used  in  the  later  minutes,  was 
intended  to  designate  more  definitely  the  location  of  what  had  long  been 
known  as  the  Old  Bullskin  Church.  When  Archibald  Alexander  preached 
there  after  his  licensure  in  1791,  the  church  building  stood  very  near  the 
head  spring  of  the  stream,  and  the  ruins  of  that  old  building  were  there 
within  the  memory  of  persons  still  living.  In  the  organization  of  the 
Hopewell  church  some  families  from  Bullskin  may  have  been  included; 
but  it  is  beyond  doubt,  that  when  Bullskin  ceased  to  exist  as  a  church,  it 
was  Charlestown  and  not  Smithfield  that  was  its  true  successor. 

The  date  of  the  organization  of  Hopewell  church  cannot  be  deter- 
mined. The  name  first  appears  in  the  Records  of  Donegal  in  October, 
1773,  when,  with  other  places  in  this  Valley,  it  sent  up  its  supplication  for 
ministerial  supplies.  We  are  not  told  who  was  sent;  yet  that  some  rather 
permanent  arrangement  was  made  to  provide  them  with  Gospel  ordinances 
seems  probable,  from  the  fact  that  their  application  was  not  renewed  for 
the  next  six  years.  In  April,  1780,  Rev.  James  Martin  was  ordered  to 
supply  Hopewell  in  May,  and  Rev.  John  Hoge  in  August.  The  next  year, 
April,  1781,  it  again  asks  for  supplies;  and  then  for  the  next  seven  or  eight 
years  very  little  is  known  of  its  history.  But  during  that  time  it  must  have 
been  growing  in  strength  and  importance  as  in  1791,  it  was  able,  in  con- 


82  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIAN  ISM 

nection  with  Bullskin  and  Charlestown,  to  secure  the  services  of  Licentiate 
William  Hill,  who  was  in  great  demand  in  many  parts  of  the  Church  be- 
cause of  his  reputation  as  a  preacher  of  unusual  ability  and  eloquence.  In 
this  interesting  field,  composed  of  Hopewell,  Charlestown  and  Bullskin, 
Mr.  Hill  spent  the  first  eight  years  of  his  ministry.  When  the  Presbytery 
of  Winchester  was  organized  in  1794,  Hopewell  was  one  of  the  eleven 
churches  composing  it,  which  were  reported  as  supplied  with  pastors. 


XV.  CULPEPER  COURT  HOUSE. 

The  name  "  Culpeper"  appears  in  the  Donegal  Records  as  early  as 
April,  1771,  when  the  Rev.  Hugh  Vance  was  appointed  a  supply  for  the 
third  and  fourth  Sabbaths  in  November;  but  this  appointment  is  to  the 
County,  without  the  designation  of  any  particular  place.  The  next  spring 
( 1792 )  Rev.  Messrs.  Thompson,  Slemons,  and  Craighead  were  sent  to 
supply  several  places  in  the  county  specially  named,  as  "  Gourdvine," 
"Rappahannock,"  and  "The  North  Branch  of  the  Rappahannock." 
Two  months  later  Mr.  Thorn  was  directed  to  visit  "  Gourdvine."  These 
were  all  different  places,  but  all  of  them  in  Culpeper  County. 

In  October,  1775,  Rev.  Hugh  Vance  is  directed  to  "  supply  Capt. 
Conn's  at  Culpeper  C.  H."  This  is  the  first  distinct  reference  to  the  place 
where  a  Presbyterian  church  was  afterward  established.  The  other  points 
in  the  county,  which  seem  to  have  been  supplied  only  tentatively,  are  now 
dropped  from  the  Records;  and  Culpeper  C.  H.  is  the  place  henceforth 
named.  In  October,  1776,  Mr.  Vance  is  again  sent  to  "Conn's  at  Cul- 
peper C.  H.,"  and  again  to  "  Culpeper  C.  H."  in  April,  1777.  One  year 
later  (April,  1778)  Culpeper  C.  H.  makes  supplication  for  supplies;  and 
in  answer,  different  ministers  are  sent  into  Virginia  to  spend  several  months 
in  evengelistic  work,  and  presumably  to  supply  specially  at  this  point. 
Under  this  appointment  Rev.  James  McConnell  and  Samuel  Waugh  ren- 
dered efficient  service.  In  the  fall  of  1779  Rev.  Joseph  Henderson  was 
appointed  to  supply  Culpeper,  with  permission  to  extend  his  labors  into 
Hanover  Presbytery.  In  October,  1780,  Rev.  Hezekiah  Balch  was  directed 
to  give  a  month's  service  to  this  congregation. 

The  name  of  this  minister  occurs  so  often  in  connection  with  the  evan- 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  83 

gelistic  work  in  this  region,  that  a  more  extended  account  of  him  may 
properly  be  given;  and  the  more  properly  because  of  the  distinction  he 
afterward  attained. 

Rev.  Hezekiah  James  Balch,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Harford  County,  Md., 
in  1741,  but  most  of  his  early  years  were  spent  in  Mecklenburg  County, 
N.  C,  to  which  place  his  parents  removed  when  he  was  a  child.  He  was 
graduated  at  Princeton  College  in  1762,  and  then  taught  for  several  years 
in  Fauquier  County,  Va.  He  was  licensed  by  Donegal  Presbytery  April 
20,  1768,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  was  granted  permission  to  preach  in 
the  vacancies  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina.  In  August,  1769,  he  ac- 
cepted calls  from  Rocky  River  and  Poplar  Tent,  N.  C.  He  was  ordained 
by  Donegal  Presbytery  November  16,  1769,  and  furnished  by  the  modera- 
tor with  credentials  to  Hanover  Presbytery,  and  to  the  churches  in  North 
Carolina,  he  returned  South.  While  on  his  first  visit  to  North  Carolina  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Hannah  Lewis,  a  young  lady  of  fine  intellect  and 
great  personal  attractions.  But,  as  already  related,  when  he  met  his  Pres- 
bytery soon  after,  he  had  to  face  the  serious  charge  that  was  tabled  against 
him,  of  having  been  ' '  married  by  a  clergymen  of  the  English  Established 
Church."  When  summoned  to  answer,  he  owned  his  fault  before  Presby- 
tery, and  received  the  solemn  censure  of  the  court,  through  its  moderator, 
Rev.  Mr.  Roan. 

Mr.  Balch  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Orange,  May  24,  1770; 
but  in  less  than  five  years  he  returned  again  to  Donegal,  and,  October  17, 
1775,  was  settled  as  pastor  of  Thorn's  Creek  ( Emmitsburg ) ,  Md.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  there  of  seven  or  eight  years,  he  did  a  great  deal  of  mis- 
sionary work  south  of  the  Potomac,  and  principally  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 
While  serving  this  church  he  became  involved  in  a  rather  characteristic 
altercation  with  his  Presbytery.  At  the  April  meeting  of  1778,  when  called 
upon  to  give  his  reasons  for  absence  from  the  last  stated  meeting,  he  re- 
fused to  give  any,  save  that  he  "was  at  camp."  Finding  that  he  had  set 
out  for  the  camp  the  very  week  of  the  meeting,  he  was  ordered  to  lay  be- 
fore Presbytery  his  reasons  for  going  to  camp  at  that  time.  This  he  abso- 
lutely refused  to  do.  For  his  contumacy  Presbytery  judged  it  proper  that 
he  should  be  admonished  from  the  chair,  and  that  he  instantly  comply. 
But  Mr.  Balch  appealed  to  the  Synod.  Some  years  afterward  (1782)  he 
withdrew  the  appeal,  and  submitted  to  the  admonition. 

In  June,  1782,  he  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover;  but 
after  laboring  within  its  bounds  for  two  years,  he  crossed  the  Alleghanies 
and   settled   in  eastern  Tennessee,  in  the  Valley  of  the  Holston.     Here,  in 


84  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

1785,  he,  with  Rev.  Samuel  Doak  and  Rev.  Charles  Cummings,  assisted 
in  organizing  the  Presbytery  of  Abingdon — the  first  on  our  western  waters. 
In  that  vast  wilderness  the  remainder,  and  by  far  the  most  important  and 
useful  and  yet  turburlent  period,  of  his  singularly  active  and  eventful  life 
was  passed.  But  of  the  incidents  of  that  life — of  his  political  troubles  in 
connection  with  the  formation  of  the  State  of  "  Franklin  " — of  his  labors 
and  sacrifices  in  the  interests  of  education  and  religion — of  his  many  theo- 
logical and  ecclesiastical  controversies,  we  have  not  room  here  to  speak. 
Dr.  Balch  died  after  a  brief,  but  most  distressing  illness,  in  April,  1810. 

Returning  now  to  the  history  of  the  church  at  Culpeper  C.  H.  After 
the  labors  there  of  Mr.  Balch  in  1780,  the  name  of  Culpeper  silently  drops 
out  of  the  Donegal  Records.  As  the  church  was  on  the  border  of  Hanover 
Presbytery,  it  is  possible  that,  with  a  view  to  more  frequent  service  than  it 
was  able  to  get  from  Donegal,  its  Presbyterial  relations  may  have  been 
transferred  for  the  time  to  the  south  side  of  the  Rappahannock;  or  that, 
without  a  transfer,  the  church  was  supplied  by  association  with  some 
church  on  the  northern  border  of  Hanover.  In  any  case,  the  fact  is  pretty 
well  settled,  that  from  about  the  period  when  this  name  disappears,  until 
now,  there  has  been  a  living  and  active  Presbyterian  church  at  Culpeper 
C.  H. 


XVI.  KITTOCKTIN. 

There  are  two  very  interesting  facts  in  the  history  of  this  church.  The 
first  is,  that  while  we  are  not  able  to  determine  the  date  of  its  organization, 
it  is  certainly  one  of  the  oldest,  and  with  the  possible  exception  of  Alex- 
andria, and  the  certain  exception  of  Lancaster  and  Northumberland,  abso- 
lutely the  oldest  church  in  our  former  territory  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 
When  we  first  meet  with  the  name,  in  1776,  it  is  that  of,  apparently,  a 
fully  equipped  church,  not  only  organized  for  worship,  but  with  a  settled 
minister  already  in  charge.  The  other  interesting  fact  is  that  the  earliest 
missionary  work  in  that  eastern  territory  was  not  undertaken  by  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Donegal.  Important  and  successful  work  had  been  done  there 
before  this  Presbytery,  which  had  done  so  much  for  the  evangelizing  of 
the  region  west  of  the  Ridge,  had  begun  to  send  its  missionaries  into  East- 
ern Virginia.  What  Presbytery  it  was  that  first  entered  this  field — whether 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  85 

New  Castle  from  north  of  the  Potomac,  or  Hanover  from  south  of  the 
Rappahannock — we  do  not  know,  though  the  probabilities  are  that  the 
field  was  at  first  worked  by  both  Presbyteries. 

Kittocktin,  or  as  it  is  now  written,  "  Catoctin,"  is  the  present  Presby- 
terian church  in  Waterford,  Loudoun  County.  The  original  house  of  wor- 
ship stood  on  the  road  between  Leesburg  and  Waterford,  one  mile  and  a 
half  south  of  its  present  site,  and  five  miles  north  of  Leesburg.  It  is  claim- 
ed that  this  was  the  first  church  building  erected  in  Loudoun  County.  No 
vestige  of  it  remains  now.  It  has  not  been  used  as  a  place  of  worship 
since  about  1825.  The  old  graveyard,  in  which  the  remains  of  so  many 
of  the  early  settlers  were  buried,  is  enclosed  by  a  solid  stone  wall ;  and  it 
has  received  but  few  interments  for  many  years. 

The  name  of  this  church  first  appears  in  the  Donegal  Records,  Octo- 
ber, 1776.  When  "supplications  (for  ministerial  service)  were  received 
from  Kittocktin  and  Gum  Spring,  in  Loudoun  County,  Va.,"  and,  as  en- 
forcing the  supplication,  the  fact  is  stated  that  "Rev.  Amos  Thompson, 
the  pastor  of  these  churches,  was  absent  as  chaplain  in  the  Continental 
Army."  When  Mr.  Thompson  was  settled  over  these  churches  we  are 
not  informed,  but  that  his  relation  was  regarded  as  a  permanent  one  is  evi- 
dent from  the  fact  that  his  absence  in  the  army  had  not  dissolved  it.  How 
long  he  continued  in  his  post  as  chaplain  does  not  appear,  but  as  he  was 
fond  of  adventure,  and  life  in  the  army  was  not  uncongenial,  and  as  these 
churches  were  vacant  for  several  years,  it  is  not  improbable  that  his  chap- 
laincy continued  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

This  Rev.  Amos  Thompson  was  a  man  of  considerable  note,  though 
the  church  historians  have  written  almost  nothing  about  him.  It  is 
believed  he  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  about  1735.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Princeton  College  in  1760  while  Samuel  Davies  was  president. 
He  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  in  1761,  and  or- 
dained by  the  same  Presbytery  in  1763  or  '64.  Of  his  work  between  licen- 
sure and  ordination  we  have  no  account.  After  his  ordination  his  Presby- 
tery sent  him  to  labor  for  some  time  in  Loudoun  County,  Va.  This  ap- 
pointment seems  to  fix  the  time  when  his  work  in  that  county  began.  The 
Synod  at  its  meeting  in  1764  directed  that,  after  his  Presbyterial  appoint- 
ment was  fulfilled,  he  be  recommended  to  supply  under  direction  of  Han- 
over Presbytery  until  the  next  meeting  of  Synod.  Of  his  labors  for  the  next 
six  years  we  find  no  record.  But  in  its  report  to  Synod,  May,  1770,  his 
name  appears  as  a  member  of  Donegal  Presbytery.  The  suggestion  is  a 
plausible  one,  that  as  the  result  of  his  labors   in  Loudoun  County,  which 


86  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

were  undertaken  by  direction  of  New  Brunswick  Presbytery,  he  had  ef- 
fected an  organization  of  the  churches  of  Kittocktin  and  Gum  Spring  and 
had  become  their  settled  minister ;  but  as  Donegal  had  now  assumed  the 
supervision  of  the  missionary  work  in  Northern  Virginia,  it  became  proper 
that  Mr.  Thompson,  laboring  in  that  region,  should  have  his  Presbyterial 
relations  transferred  to  the  controlling  Presbytery.  And  from  that  time 
until  1786  his  membership  continued  in  that  Presbytery.  In  1786  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Donegal  was  divided,  and  its  name  dropped.  In  the  distribution 
of  the  members  composing  the  two  new  Presbyteries,  his  name  does  not 
appear  in  connection  with  either.  Nor  is  he  mentioned  at  all  when  the 
several  Presbyteries  report  their  membership  to  the  first  General  Assembly 
in  1789.  His  name  is  not  found  after  1786  in  any  Presbyterial  Record  until 
September  25,  1799,  when  he  is  received  into  the  Presbytery  of  Winches- 
ter—the first  member  added  to  that  Presbytery  after  its  organization  in 
1794.  "  The  record  of  his  reception  throws  light  upon  this  period  of  his 
history.  It  reads:  "  The  Rev.  Amos  Thompson,  formerly  a  member  of 
Donegal  Presbytery,  and  afterwards  of  Litchfield  Association,  having  be- 
come a  resident  within  the  bounds  of  our  Presbytery,  was,  upon  applica- 
tion, admitted  as  a  member."  From  this  it  seems  probable  that  soon  after 
the  war  closed  he  went  back  to  his  native  State  and  joined  the  Congrega- 
tional Body,  and  then,  after  twelve  or  fifteen  years,  he  returned  to  his  old 
home  in  Loudoun  County  and  spent  his  last  years  among  the  people  to 
whom  he  formerly  ministered.  His  death  occurred  very  suddenly  and 
unexpectedly  in  October,  1804,  and  on  the  27th  day  of  that  month  his  fune- 
ral sermon  was  preached  by  Dr.  Moses  Hoge  from  John  11:26.  These 
funeral  services  were  held  in  Leesburg,  the  county  seat  of  Loudoun. 

Dr.  A.  Alexander,  on  his  journey  from  Hampden-Sidney  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  in  Philadelphia  in  1801,  met  Mr.  Thompson  and  traveled 
with  him  several  days,  and  relates  some  interesting  facts  concerning  him. 
Hearing  of  the  new  theological  views  which  Dr.  Samuel  Hopkins  had  es- 
poused, Mr.  Thompson  made  him  a  visit,  after  his  own  licensure,  to  con- 
vince the  Doctor  of  his  errors,  and  pursuade  him  to  abandon  them  ;  but 
returned  from  his  visit  a  thorough  convert  to  the  Hopkinsian  system,  to 
which  he  adhered  tenaciously  to  his  dying  day,  preaching  it  to  the  aston- 
ishment, and,  often  to  the  displeasure,  of  his  Virginia  audiences. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  a  man  of  gigantic  frame  and  prodigious  strength, 
and  utterly  fearless,  as  the  following  incident  will  show  :  When  he  came 
to  Northern  Virginia,  about  1765,  the  Baptists  were  the  only  dissenters 
there.     Soon  after  his  coming   one  of  their  leading  preachers,  an  old  man, 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  87 

had  been  threatened  with  personal  violence  by  a  set  of  profane  and  law- 
less men  if  he  should  ever  appear  again  in  a  certain  pulpit.  Hearing  of 
the  prowess  of  Mr.  Thompson,  the  old  preacher  m'ade  a  long  journey  to 
obtain  his  presence  at  his  next  appointment.  He  at  once  agreed  to  go. 
When  they  arrived  at  the  place  a  great  multitude  had  assembled,  for  the 
threat  was  widely  known  and  an  exciting  scene  was  expected.  While  Mr. 
Thompson  was  at  prayer  the  hostile  party  entered  and  took  their  seats  near 
the  pulpit.  The  stalwart  appearance  of  the  preacher  so  intimidated  the 
ruffians  that  they  were  afraid  to  carry  out  their  purpose  and  left  the  house 
quietly  at  the  close  of  the  service.  Before  dismissing  them,  however,  Mr. 
Thompson  addressed  himself  directly  to  these  men,  told  them  that  he  was 
accquainted  with  their  threats,  warned  them  of  the  consequences  of  their 
lawlessness,  and  assured  them  that  he  would  himself  prosecute  them  in  the 
civil  courts  if  a  finger  was  raised  against  the  preacher.  As  for  himself, 
though  a  man  of  peace,  he  was  fully  able  to  protect  himself  if  attacked, 
and  would  certainly  do  so.  When  the  meeting  closed  he  inquired  for  the 
captain  of  this  band,  and  asked  him  to  go  aside  with  him,  and  walked  off 
with  him  toward  the  woods,  but  on  reaching  it  this  leader,  a  stout,  bold- 
looking  man,  showed  alarm,  stopped  and  raised  his  club  as  if  to  strike. 
Thompson  said  quietly,  "Fie,  man,  what  can  you  do  with  that?"  and  in 
an  instant  wrested  the  club  from  his  hand,  adding  that  he  intended  no  vio- 
lence, but  that  if  so  disposed  he  could  hurl  him  to  the  earth  in  a  moment. 
The  ruffian  was  completely  cowed  and  was  glad  to  escape  from  one  whose 
mastery  he  was  compelled  to  acknowledge.  The  old  preacher  received 
no  further  molestation. 

But  to  return  to  the  Kittocktin  church;  when  in  the  absence  of  Mr. 
Thompson  it  first  asked  for  supplies,  the  Presbytery  sent  them  Rev.  James 
Lang  and  Licentiate  John  McKnight.  In  December,  1776,  Rev.  Samuel 
Waugh,  and  in  April,  1777,  Rev.  Hugh  Vance,  were  ordered  to  supply 
them.  The  next  year,  1778,  Mr.  Waugh  was  allowed  to  spend  the  entire 
summer  in  evangelistic  labor  in  Eastern  Virginia ;  and  again  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1779  he  itinerated  for  three  months,  chiefly  in  that  region,  and 
there  is  little  doubt  that  this  church  enjoyed  a  full  share  of  his  labors. 

After  four  years  of  dependence  upon  supplies,  the  churches  of  Kit- 
tocktin and  Gum  Spring,  despairing  of  the  return  of  their  pastor,  in  April, 
1780,  laid  before  Presbytery  a  joint  call  for  the  services  of  Rev.  David 
Bard,  which  he  accepted,  and  was  settled  in  that  field.  In  June,  1782,  he 
tendered  his  resignation  and  was  dismissed. 

Of  the  further  history  of  this  church  until   after   the   organization   of 


88  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

Winchester  Presbytery  we  have  no  detailed  information.  But  the  strength 
it  had  attained  and  the  commendable  zeal  for  church  privileges  which  it 
had  always  displayed,  warrant  the  conclusion  that  it  would  not  be  long 
without  a  minister.  The  return  of  Mr.  Thompson  to  his  old  home  may 
mean  that  he  served  them  again.  This  is  a  church  that  has  maintained 
an  uninterrupted  existence  for  about  140  years.  Its  present  condition  is 
very  flourishing  under  the  faithful  ministry  of  Rev.  E.  L.  Wilson,  himself 
a  son  of  Winchester  Presbytery. 


XVII.  GUM  SPRING. 

Gum  Spring  is  in  Loudoun  County,  about  twelve  miles  south  of  Lees- 
burg,  and  seven  miles  east  of  Middleburg,  on  the  great  turnpike  road  from 
Winchester  to  Alexandria.  The  church  organization  at  that  point  was  so 
closely  associated  with  that  at  Kittocktin  that  during  the  period  under  con- 
sideration the  history  of  the  one  is  substantially  that  of  the  other.  The 
two  come  to  our  notice  in  the  same  Presbyterial  minute  as  one  ministerial 
charge,  and  when  the  pastor  who  has  been  serving  them  leaves  they  come 
before  Presbytery  with  a  joint  request  for  ministerial  supplies.  When  an- 
other minister  is  called  the  two  churches  unite  in  the  call ;  and  this  relation 
continues  down  to  the  time  when  Winchester  Presbytery  is  organized  and, 
probably,  to  the  time  when  this  church  became  extinct,  or  was  removed 
to  some  other  point  and  assumed  a  different  name. 

The  first  mention  of  Gum  Spring  in  any  Record  known  to  us  is  in 
October,  1776.  It  then  appears  as  an  organized  church  which  had  for 
some  time  enjoyed  the  services  of  a  settled  minister.  This  minister,  the 
Rev.  Amos  Thompson,  was  then  temporarily  absent  from  his  church,  act- 
ing as  chaplain  in  the  Continental  Army,  and  his  two  churches,  Gum  Spring 
and  Kittocktin,  ask  Donegal  Presbytery  for  supplies  during  his  absence. 

Of  the  origin  and  early  history  of  this  church  we  have  no  certain  in- 
formation. But  it  seems  quite  probable  that  it  was  one  of  the  fruits  of  Mr. 
Thompson's  missionary  labors  when  he  was  sent  to  Loudoun  County  by 
New  Brunswick  Presbytery  in  1764. 

In  answer  to  its  request  for  supplies  in  1776,  Rev.  Hugh  Vance  was 
sent.  The  next  year  Mr.  McKnight  supplied  them  for  a  time.  Then  in 
the  two  following  years  they  doubtless  shared  in  the  evangelistic  labors  in 
that  region  of  Rev.  Samuel  Waugh,  as  well  as  in  the  appointments,  which 
at  that  particular  time  were  regularly  made  by  the  Presbyterial  Committee 
of  Supplies. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  89 

In  April,  1780,  this  church  united  with  Kittocktin  in  a  call  for  the 
pastoral  services  of  the  Rev.  David  Bard,  which  was  accepted,  and  Mr. 
Bard  was  settled  as  their  pastor  and  remained  with  them  for  two  years. 
As  the  war  was  still  in  progress,  and  the  money  then  in  circulation  of  little 
value,  it  is  interesting  to  learn  v/hat  provision  was  made  by  the  churches 
for  the  support  of  the  preachers  whom  they  called.  In  this  particular  case, 
we  find  that  these  churches  "obligated  themselves  to  pay  Mr.  Bard  500 
bushels  of  grain,  viz  :  200  bushels  of  wheat,  50  bushels  of  Rie,  and  250 
bushels  of  Indian  corn." 

This  minister,  David  Bard,  had  a  somewhat  extraordinary  history. 
Like  Moses  Hoge,  he  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  was  born  in  Leesburg, 
Loudoun  County,  about  the  year  1750  ;  was  graduated  at  Princeton  in  the 
class  of  1773  ;  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  October  11, 
1776,  and  ordained  by  the  same  Presbytery,  August  16,  1779.  In  the 
preceding  year  he  had  been  called  to  the  Great  Cove  church  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  served  it  until  called  to  this  charge  in  Loudoun  County.  During 
his  short  pastorate  in  Virginia  he  devoted  a  great  deal  of  time  in  looking 
after  the  vacancies  and  destitutions  of  that  region.  When  dismissed  from 
this  charge  he  was  directed  to  preach  in  Leesburg,  but  does  not  seem  to 
have  remained  there  very  long.  In  1786  he  received  and  accepted  a  call 
to  Bedford,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  until  1789.  In  1794,  by  act  of  the 
General  Assembly,  he  was  transferred  from  Carlisle  Presbytery  to  Hunt- 
ingdon, having  accepted,  in  1790,  a  call  to  Frankstown  (near  Hollidays- 
burgj,  Pa.,  within  the  bounds  of  the  new  Presbytery.  In  April,  1791,  he 
was  called  to  the  churches  of  Falling  Waters  and  Williamsport,  Md.,  on  a 
salary  of  £77,  18s.,  10d.,  but  did  not  accept.  While  in  charge  at  Franks- 
town,  he,  for  some  reason  that  has  not  been  explained,  became  mixed  up 
with  the  politics  of  the  day,  and  in  the  fall  of  1795  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress from  that  district,  and  was  re-elected  two  years  later.  That  he  look- 
ed upon  this  diversion  from  the  ministry  as  only  temporary  and  for  the  ac- 
complishment of  some  definite  purpose,  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  dur- 
ing these  two  terms  in  Congress  he  retained  his  pastoral  relation  to  his 
church,  from  which  he  was  not  released  until  1799.  It  was  then  done  at 
his  own  request.  The  people  of  his  district,  however,  were  so  well  satis- 
fied with  the  ability  and  faithfulness  with  which  he  had  served  them  as 
their  representative  that,  after  four  years'  retirement,  they  elected  him 
again  to  Congress,  and  continued  to  re-elect  him  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred March  12,  1815,  on  his  way  home  from  Washington. 

His  biographer  is  careful  to  say  that  Mr.    Bard   did  not  forsake  the 


90  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

pulpit  because  he  was  unacceptable  as  a  preacher,  for  he  was  possessed  of 
popular  talents,  both  as  a  preacher  and  politician.  Nor  will  he  allow  the 
intimation  that  he  had  no  heart  for  the  ministry,  for  during  the  recesses  of 
Congress  he  was  constantly  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  he  was  stated  supply  of  the  Sinking  Valley  church. 

Of  the  history  of  the  Gum  Spring  church,  subsequent  to  the  resigna- 
tion of  yir.  Bard,  we  have  no  definite  knowledge.  It  is  probable,  as  in  so 
many  other  instances,  that  it  was  reduced  in  numbers  by  removal,  until  it 
became  expedient  to  change  its  location  to  some  more  eligible  point — per- 
haps to  Middleburg.  All  that  we  really  know  is  that  Gum  Spring  is  now 
extinct. 


S^tfe 


XVIIL  HAMPSHIRE  COUNTY. 

J   Springfield.     2.  Romney. 

The  attempt  to  trace  the  early  history  of  Presbyterianism  in  Hamp- 
shire County  is  attended  with  more  difficulty  than  one  would  suppose. 
The  difficulty  arises  mainly  from  the  indefinite  character  of  the  statements 
found  in  the  Presbyterial  Records.  Some  places,  as  "Forks  of  Capon," 
"Patterson's  Creek,"  and  "North  River"  are  distinctly  designated.  But  in 
most  instances  the  reference  to  the  missionary  work  done  in  this  county  is 
made  in  such  general  terms  that  we  are  quite  at  a  loss  to  fix  upon  the  par- 
ticular localities  intended.  For  example,  the  statement  in  the  minutes  is 
that  supplies  are  asked  for  —or  sent  to — "Hampshire"  simply.  Some- 
times it  is  to  "various  places  on  the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac,"  neither 
of  which  expressions  gives  any  definite  idea  of  the  special  place  in  which 
missionary  work  was  done.  But  the  indefinite  statements  of  the  minutes 
do  not  stop  with  these  expressions.  We  are  often  embarrassed  by  the 
vague  manner  in  which  they  speak  of  "the  South  Branch  of  the  Potomac." 
This  South  Branch  is  the  main  waterway  of  both  Hampshire  and  Hardy 
counties.  In  the  early  use  of  the  expression  it  unquestionably  refers  to 
the  Moorefield  Valley  in  Hardy  ;  and  later  in  the  minutes  there  is  just  as 
little  doubt  that  it  refers  most  frequently  to  the  lower  part  of  the  stream  in 
Hampshire.  But  between  these  periods  there  are  several  instances  in 
which  it  is  very  difficult  to  tell  whether  it  is  Hardy   or   Hampshire  that  is 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  91 

meant.  In  our  treatment  of  the  planting  of  our  church  in  Hardy,  we  as- 
sumed that  the  reference  to  the  "South  Branch"  down  to  about  1765,  and 
some  references  that  were  later,  were  meant  for  that  part  of  the  river  that 
is  above  "The  Trough."  We  are  aware  that  the  correctness  of  this  as- 
sumption may,  in  some  cases,  be  questioned.  But  in  the  main  we  believe 
it  to  be  justified.  After  that  time,  it  seems  for  the  most  part,  to  be  the 
Lower  Valley  in  Hampshire  that  is  referred  to  when  the  "South  Branch" 
is  named. 

And  yet  there  are  some  references  after  that  date  that  leave  us  in 
doubt  as  to  what  places  are  meant,  e.  g.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  of 
New  York  and  Philadelphia  in  May,  1767,  petitions  for  supplies  were 
brought  in  from  several  points,  and  among  them  "from  the  South  Branch 
of  Potomac  in  Virginia."  In  view  of  these  petitions,  Rev.  Joseph  Bay, 
who  had  been  appointed  to  make  an  evangelistic  tour  through  Virginia, the 
Carolinas  and  Georgia,  was  "recommended  to  visit  the  South  Branch  of 
Potomac  in  going  out."  Here  is  nothing  definite  as  to  the  place  or  places 
to  be  visited.  It  is,  however,  a  reasonable  surmise,  and  certainly  accords 
with  the  spirit  of  his  instructions,  that  Mr.  Bay  entered  the  Valley  of  the 
South  Branch  at  its  mouth,  and  as  he  proceeded  up  the  stream  on  his  way 
south  that  he  visited  all  the  settlements  in  the  Valley  where  Presbyterians 
were  to  be  found. 

Again,  when  in  April,  1768,  the  South  Branch  supplicated  Presbytery 
for  supplies,  and  "for  an  ordained  minister  to  assist  in  forming  them  into 
a  regular  congregation,"  there  is  no  certain  clue  as  to  the  part  of  the  South 
Branch  from  which  this  request  came.  In  our  sketch  of  the  church  at 
Moorefield  we  interpreted  the  minute  as  referring  to  that  part  of  the  Branch. 
This  interpretation  may  be  correct,  though  subsequent  minutes  throw  a 
shade  of  doubt  upon  its  accuracy. 

There  are  other  minutes,  both  of  Presbytery  and  Synod,  lacking  in 
explicitness,  but  which  seem  to  refer  to  Hampshire  County,  e.  g. 

At  the  meeting  of  Synod,  May,  1768,  "an  application  on  the  behalf 
of  several  distressed  societies  on  the  frontiers  of  Pennsylvania  and  the 
South  Branch  of  the  Potomac,  was  made  for  missionaries  to  be  sent  among 
them,"  and  Rev.  John  Roan  was  sent  to  supply  them  several  Sabbaths  at 
discretion,  the  sum  of  £4  and  10s.  being  allowed  for  his  expenses.  In 
October  of  the  same  year  "a  number  of  places  in  Hampshire  "  ask  for 
supplies.  April,  1769,  "various  places  on  the  South  Branch  of  Potomac" 
call  on  Presbytery  for  supplies.  At  the  meeting  of  Synod,  May,  1771, 
"application  was  made  on  behalf  of   vacancies  beyond   the  Alleghanies, 


92  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

and  on  behalf  of  the  settlements  on  the  South  Branch  of  Potomac,"  and 
Rev.  Sampson  Smith  was  sent  "to  spend  six  months  in  the  settlements  of 
the  South  Branch."  And  the  next  year,  May,  1772,  the  Synod  again  ap- 
pointed Mr.  Sampson  Smith  to  "supply  two  months  on  the  South  Branch 
of  Potomac." 

That  all  these  minutes,  both  of  Presbytery  and  Synod,  refer  only  to 
places  in  the  Valley  of  the  South  Branch,  below  "The  Trough,"  is  more, 
probably,  than  we  are  at  liberty  to  affirm  ;  but  that  most  of  them  do,  we 
are  fully  persuaded.  It  can  hardly  be  supposed  that  that  Lower  Valley, 
with  its  broad,  rich  bottoms  and  many  other  attractions,  had  been  over- 
looked by  Presbyterian  immigrants  when  other  places  in  Hampshire,  less 
inviting  and  no  more  accessible,  had  been  long  occupied  by  them.  If  the 
minutes  we  have  quoted  were  more  explicit  it  would  no  doubt  be  seen  that 
there  were  places  on  the  South  Branch  in  Hampshire,  as  well  as  on  Patter- 
son's Creek  and  Capon,  that  at  an  early  date  were  fully  equipped  for  wor- 
ship, and  were  enjoying,  if  not  the  stated,  yet  the  occasional  ministry  of 
the  Word.     One  of  these  places  was 

1st.  Springfield. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that  we  do  not  meet  with  the  name  "Springfield" 
in  any  Record,  Presbyterial  or  Synodical,  until  in  the  minutes  of  the  Synod 
of  Virginia  in  1794  it  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the  churches  set  off  to  con- 
stitute the  Presbytery  of  Winchester.  It  is  referred  to,  however,  though 
under  a  different  name,  as  early  at  least  as  October,  1776.  At  that  date, 
Licentiate  John  McKnight  was  ordered  by  Donegal  Presbytery  to  "supply 
at  Mr.Abernathy's."  A  later  minute  I  April,  1778)  locates  "Abernathy's" 
in  Hampshire  County,  and  personal  inquiry  establishes  the  fact  that,  at 
the  time  designated,  a  family  of  the  name  of  Abernathy  resided  on  the 
South  Branch  at  or  near  where  Springfield  now  is,  and  ran  a  flour  mill 
that  was  extensively  patronized  throughout  that  region.  Mr.  Abernathy 
was  a  Presbyterian,  and  public  worship  was  conducted  at  his  home  by 
Presbyterian  preachers  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  McKnight,  while  pas- 
tor at  Elk  Branch,  made  several  visits  there,  where  his  services  were  highly 
appreciated.  When,  however,  the  congregation  became  so  large  that  a 
more  commodious  building  in  which  to  assemble  became  necessary,  a  con- 
troversy arose  as  to  the  site  on  which  the  house  of  worship  should  be  erect- 
ed. Some  favored  placing  it  near  Mr.  Abernathy's,  while  others  insisted 
that  a  more  eligible  site  was  offered  by  "Major  Scott,  of  Virginia."  The 
contention  waxed  so  warm  that  the  matter  was  at  length,    in   April,  1780, 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  93 

submitted  to  the  Presbytery  for  settlement.  A  settlement  seems  to  have 
been  reached,  but  just  how  the  question  was  decided  we  do  not  now  know. 
The  next  October  (1780)  Mr.  McKnight  was  directed  to  spend  two  weeks 
in  preaching  to  this  people,  and  after  that  the  name  does  not  again  occur 
in  the  Records  of  either  Donegal  or  Carlisle  Presbyteries  ;  nor  do  we  find 
any  other  name  that  can  be  identified  with  it.  This  may  possibly  be  ac- 
counted for  by  the  fact  that  the  Presbyterial  "Committee"  sent  supplies 
regularly  to  them  as  well  as  to  several  other  churches,  of  which  no  minute 
was  made. 

Dr.  Foote,  in  his  manuscript  preface  to  the  Records  of  Mt.  Bethel 
Church,  written  in  1833,  says  that  the  first  Presbyterian  preacher  in  Hamp- 
shire County  was  a  Rev.  Mr.  Finley,  but  he  gives  no  clue  as  to  the  time 
when,  or  the  places  where  he  preached.  We  have  not  been  able  to  dis- 
cover any  other  reference  to  this  minister.  His  name  is  not  found  on  the 
roll  of  any  Presbytery  that  sent  preachers  to  this  region.  If  he  was  the 
first  Presbytertan  preacher  in  the  county  he  must  have  been  there  prior  to 
1761,  when  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  began  to  send  missionaries  here. 
It  may  be  that  Dr.  Foote  meant  that  Mr.  Finley  was  the  first  resident  min- 
ister in  Hampshire.  In  that  case  he  must  have  lived  there  before  1777, 
when  the  Rev.  Thaddeus  Dodd  came  to  Patterson's  Creek  and  labored 
there  for  about  two  years.  Mr.  Finley  may  possibly  have  lived  at  Spring- 
field, and  carried  on  his  work  there  and  elsewhere  during  the  period  be- 
tween 1780  and  1792 — a  period  of  which  we  have  no  definite  information 
touching  the  history  of  the  church  in  that  part  of  the  South  Branch  Valley. 

After  1792  we  come  again  into  the  light  of  documentary  history.  The 
Commission  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia  began  to  send  its  missionaries  into 
these  back  counties,  and  one  of  them,  John  Lyle,  after  laboring  for  a  time 
along  the  South  Branch  Valley,  was  finally  induced  to  settle  at  Springfield, 
and  the  remainder  of  his  life,  about  fifteen  years,  was  spent  in  active  evan- 
gelistic work  in  the  county  of  Hampshire. 

The  Rev.  John  Lyle  was  the  son  of  Daniel  Lyle,  an  emigrant  from 
the  north  of  Ireland,  and  was  born  in  Rockbridge  County,  though  the  date 
of  his  birth  is  not  known.  As  a  young  man  he  accompanied  the  expedi- 
tion to  Point  Pleasant  against  the  Indians  and  took  part  in  that  famous  bat- 
tle October  10,  1774.  It  is  probable  that  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  also.  It  was  rather  late  in  life  that  he  began  his  preparations 
for  the  ministry,  which  were  made  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  William 
Graham,  and  with  Archibald  Alexander  as  a  fellow  student.  During  their 
theological  training  an  incident  occurred  which  Dr.  Alexander   thought   of 


94  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

sufficient  interest  to  relate  in  his  autobiography.  The  Presbytery  had  au- 
thorized Dr.  Graham  to  exercise  his  divinity  students  in  public  exhorta- 
tions, and  this  is  the  story  of  the  first  experiment:  "The  thing  was  new 
(the  doctor  writes )  in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  many  came  together. 
I  was  exceedingly  apprehensive  that  I  should  utterly  fail  and  not  be  able  to 
say  anything,  for  I  had  never  spoken  in  public,  except  when  I  had  com- 
mitted my  speech  to  memory.  I  had  once  attempted  to  speak  in  a  juve- 
nile debate  without  the  least  success,  x  x  x  Mr.  Lyle  appeared  to  be 
much  animated  and  elevated.  He  told  me  he  had  a  remarkable  flow  of 
thought  and  seemed  confident  of  a  prosperous  issue,  which  only  discour- 
aged me  the  more,  as  I  was  weighed  down  with  a  heavy  burden.  After 
singing.and  prayer,  Mr.  Graham  called  first  upon  Mr.  Lyle,  who  arose 
with  an  awful  cloud  upon  his  brow,  seized  fast  hold  of  the  chair  upon 
which  he  had  been  sitting,  and  with  many  contortions  of  countenance, 
forced  out  a  few  words,  but  his  flow  of  thought  had  deserted  him. 
He  hemmed  and  groaned,  rolled  up  his  pocket  handkerchief  into  a 
ball,  made  a  few  convulsive  gestures  and  sat  down."  After  another  prayer 
and  hymn,  Alexander  was  called  upon  and  went  through  his  address  with 
a  fluency  that  astonished  himself,  and  as  he  was  young  and  small  the  old 
people  were  not  less  astonished. 

Mr.  Lyle  was  taken  under  the  care  of  Lexington  Presbytery,  July  30, 
1790.  A  part  of  his  trials  for  licensure  were  passed  at  the  same  time  with 
Mr.  Alexander's,  and  he  was  licensed  at  New  Monmouth  church,  April 
29,  1791.  After  itinerating  for  about  two  years  under  direction  of  the 
Commission  of  the  Virginia  Synod,  along  the  waters  of  the  Potomac,  Jack- 
son's River,  Greenbrier  and  Roanoke,  he  accepted  an  invitation  to  settle 
in  Hampshire  County.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Lexington 
at  Springfield,  Saturday,  November  30,  1793.  His  permanent  residence 
until  his  death  was  at  Springfield,  which  was  one  of  his  most  important 
preaching  places;  the  remainder  of  his  time  being  given  to  Romney  and  Pat- 
terson's Creek,  though  the  whole  county  shared  more  or  less  in  his 
services.  Soon  after  his  settlement  at  Springfield  he  established  a  classical 
school  there,  which  Dr.  Foote  speaks  of  as  having  attained  "great  celeb- 
rity." He  married  a  sister  of  Rev.  Joseph  Glass  and  a  granddaughter  of 
Samuel  Glass,  the  emigrant  from  Ireland,  whose  remains  are  buried  at 
the  Opecquon  church. 

Mr.  Lyle  died  in  1807,  and  was  buried  in  Springfield.  His  grave  can- 
not now  be  identified.  He  left  a  widow  and  a  large  family  of  young  chil- 
dren.    Some  of  his  descendents  have  been  distinguished  in  the  church. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  95 

Though  he  was  not  a  great  preacher,  Mr.  Lyle  was  a  very  useful  min- 
ister. He  was  diligent,  laborious  and  self-sacrificing  in  carrying  the  Gos- 
pel to  all  whom  he  could  reach,  and  the  seals  of  his  faithful  ministry  were 
scattered  through  all  the  mountains  and  along  the  water  courses  of  Hamp- 
shire County.  He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Winchester,  and  Springfield  was  one  of  the  important  churches  compos- 
ing it. 

2.  Romney. 

Another  place  in  Hampshire,  where  a  Presbyterian  organization  was 
established  at  an  early  date,  and  to  which  supplies  were  sent,  was  Romney, 
though  this  place  does  not  appear  by  name  in  any  existing  church  Records 
until  October,  1781.  And  the  fact  deserves  attention  that  when  it  does 
appear  the  designation  is  unusual.  It  is  not  called  Romney  simply,  but 
"Romney  C.  H."  Ordinarily  these  familiar  initial  letters  are  used  in  con- 
nection with  the  name  of  the  county  to  designate  the  county  seat.  The 
use  of  it  here  may  be  intended  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  court 
house  was  now  at  Romney,  which  had  not  always  been  the  case.  The 
oldest  court  house  in  Hampshire  stood  in  the  Valley  of  the  South  Branch, 
several  miles  above  Romney,  built  probably  as  early  as  1756  ;  though  the 
exact  date  of  its  erection  is  not  known.  It  must  have  been  before  1762, 
as  it  was  in  that  year  that  the  town  of  Romney  was  incorporated  and  soon 
after  became  the  county  seat. 

If  the  name  of  this  place  does  not  occur  in  the  Presbyterial  Rscords 
as  early  as  might  have  been  expected,  it  nevertheless  occurs  under  condi- 
tions of  unusual  interest.  It  not  only  asks  to  be  supplied,  but  also  to  be 
organized.  The  minute  of  Donegal  Presbytery  for  October,  1781,  says: 
"Supplications  from  Romney  C.  H.  and  Patterson's  Creek,  requesting 
supplies,  and  especially  an  ordained  minister  to  assist  in  forming  them  into 
a  regular  congregation,  and  ordaining  elders,  were  read."  There  is  no 
minute  telling  what  '  'ordained  minister' '  was  sent;  but  as  such  applications 
invariably  received  the  prompt  attention  of  Presbytery,  we  must  assume 
that  one  was  sent  and  that  the  church  was  organized  as  requested. 

Now  the  remarkable  fact  is,  that  this  is  not  only  the  first  mention  of 
Romney  in  these  minutes,  it  is  absolutely  the  only  one  found  in  any  Pres- 
byterial or  Synodical  Records  until  just  prior  to  the  organization  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Winchester  in  1794.  And  yet  that  there  was  frequent 
preaching  there,  both  before  and  after  1781,  is  not  open  to  doubt.  Their 
asking  to  be  organized  as  a  church  is  evidence  that  they  had  been  for  some 


96  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

time  in  possession  of  some  church  ordinances.  And  we  can  easily  under- 
stand that  those  minutes — some  of  which  go  back  as  far  as  1768 — which 
speak  of  supplies  for  "Hampshire"  and  for  "a  number  of  places  in  Hamp- 
shire County,"  and  for  "various  places  on  the  South  Branch  of  the  Poto- 
mac," and  for  "the  South  Branch"  itself,  had  special  reference  to  so  im- 
portant a  place  as  the  county  seat  of  Hampshire.  And  when,  in  April, 
1783,  a  call  was  presented  to  Presbytery  from  "the  South  Branch  and  Pat- 
terson's Creek  for  the  pastoral  services  of  Rev.  John  McKnight,"  we  must 
believe  that  whatever  other  places  were  included  in  the  general  expression 
"South  Branch,"  Romney  was  certainly  one  of  them.  From  the  time  of 
its  organization,  and  probably  for  some  years  before,  the  church  interests 
of  Romney  and  Springfield  were  closely  identified,  and  the  relation  be- 
tween them  continued  unbroken  for  more  than  a  hundred  years.  Most  of 
the  supplies  that  at  this  early  date  were  sent  to  either  place  shared  their 
services  with  the  other,  and  when  a  pastor  was  obtained  for  one  he  became 
the  pastor  also  of  the  other.  The  places  are  so  near  that  a  man  can  easily 
preach  in  both  on  the  same  Sabbath. 

Returning  to  the  request  of  these  people  in  1781  to  be  "formed  into  a 
regular  congregation,"  it  becomes  a  matter  of  some  interest  to  know  what 
sort  of  an  organization  was  effected,  and  especially  what  were  its  meets 
and  bounds.  Our  interest  in  this  matter  arises  from  the  fact  that  it  is  com- 
monly believed  that  all  the  Presbyterians  in  Hampshire,  save  those  living 
in  the  Capon  Valley,  were  originally  organized  into  a  single  church.  Dr. 
Foote,  in  the  preface  written  by  him  to  the  Sessional  Records  of  the  pres- 
ent Mt.  Bethel  Church,  says:  "Until  the  year  1833  the  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Hampshire  County  were  all,  with  the  exception  of 
those  living  convenient  to  the  Bloomery,  enrolled  in  one  church  under  one 
eldership.  During  the  year  1833,  according  to  the  direction  of  Presbytery, 
the  necessary  steps  were  taken  for  the  division  of  the  church,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1833  the  Presbytery  divided  the  church  of  Mt.  Bethel  and  directed 
four  new  ones  to  be  organized,  one  on  the  (Jersey)  mountain,  one  on  North 
River,  one  in  Springfield  and  one  on  Patterson's  Creek,  the  church  in 
Romney  not  requiring  an  organization.  The  reason  for  this  division  was 
that  the  members  had  become  so  numerous  that  in  their  scattered  situa- 
tion the  church  was  unweildly." 

The  obvious  meaning  of  this  statement  is  that,  until  1833,  there  was  no 
separate  and  distinct  organization  at  any  of  the  places  named.  And  this  is 
now  the  prevailing  opinion  touching  the  matter.  But  its  correctness  cannot 
be  admitted.     That  for  some  time  before    1833,  all  the  Presbyterians  in  the 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  97 

valleys  of  Patterson's  Creek  and  South  Branch  were  combined  in  one  or- 
ganization is  certainly  true.  But  to  say  that  this  was  so  from  the  begin- 
ning is  to  contradict  the  facts  found  in  the  Records  of  both  Donegal  and 
Winchester  Presbyteries.  Not  only  must  we  assume  that  churches  were 
organized  at  Romney,  Springfield  and  Frankfort  ( Patterson's  Creek)  at 
an  early  date,  but  every  reference  to  them  suggests  that  these  churches  were 
organically  distinct.  As  separate  churches  they  unite  in  the  call  for  Mr. 
McKnight  ;  they  are  separately  mentioned  when  set  off  to  constitute  the 
Presbytery  of  Winchester  ;  when  vacant,  are  supplied  independently  ;  Mr. 
Lyle  is  reported  to  the  General  Assembly  as  pastor  of  these  three  churches; 
each  is  required  by  Presbytery  to  present  a  distinct  Sessional  Report,  and 
two  of  them  are  put  on  record*as  failing  to  comply  with  this  requirement. 
While  for  about  fifty  years  prior  to  1833  these  three  churches  constituted 
one  pastoral  charge,  yet  in  the  first  thirty  years  of  that  time  they  are  always 
referred  to  and  treated  as  distinct  organizations. 

A  partial  explanation  of  the  whole  matter  is  found  in  the  following 
minute  of  Winchester  Presbytery  for  October  17,  1812,  viz:  "Mr.  Black 
informed  Presbytery  that  the  congregations  heretofore  known  on  these  min- 
utes by  the  names  of  Springfield  and  Romney,  having  become  disorganized, 
have  been  by  him  organized  into  one  congregation,  hereafter  to  be  known 
by  the  name  of  Mt.  Bethel."  How  and  when  Patterson's  Creek  became 
merged  in  this  organization  we  are  not  able  to  say.  The  question  does  not 
really  concern  us,  as  it  belongs  to  a  later  period  than  that  now  under  re- 
view. The  consideration  given  it  has  been  intended  simply  to  remove  a 
misunderstanding  as  to  the  early  history  of  the  churches  in  the  lower  South 
Branch  Valley. 

XIX.  WINCHESTER. 

Although  Winchester  contained  some  settlements  as  early  as  1738 
and  became  an  incorporated  town  in  1752,  and  at  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  contained  a  population  of  about  eight  hundred,  it  was  without 
a  distinct  Presbyterian  organization  until  September  7,  1800.  While  there 
were  many  adherents  of  that  church  in  the  place,  they  held  their  member- 
ship at  Opecquon,  three  miles  distant,  and  regularly  worshipped  there. 
The  history  of  Presbyterianism  in  Winchester,  therefore,  is,  for  at  least 
fifty  years,  identified  with  that  of  the  old  Mother  Church.     For  the  sake, 


98  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

however,  of  a  connected  narrative,  we  will  repeat  here,  in  condensed  form, 
the  historical  statements  already  given  in  our  sketch  of  the  OpecquonChurch. 

Just  when  Presbyterian  service  began  to  be  held  here  is  not  known, 
but  probably  as  early  as  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town, as  many 
of  the  first  settlers  were  people  of  our  religious  faith  and  order.  From  a 
date  earlier  than  1736  the  members  of  Donegal  Presbytery  made  mission- 
ary journeys  into  this  Valley,  and  after  that  "  supplications"  continued  to 
go  up  from  this  region,  both  to  Synod  and  Presbytery  for  ministerial  sup- 
plies, and  many  of  the  supplies  that  were  sent  found  it  convenient  to  stop 
in  Winchester  and  hold  service. 

Rev.  Samuel  Gelston  was  sent  in  1736  at  the  special  request  of  the 
people  of  "both  parts  of  Opekin;"  and  he  was  the  first  Presbyterian 
minister  to  visit  and  preach  in  this  region  by  appointment  of  Donegal  Pres- 
bytery. He  was  followed  the  next  year  by  Rev.  James  Anderson,  who  in 
1738  or  9  organized  the  Opecquon  church.  The  church  at  once  called  Rev. 
John  Thomson,  but  Rev.  John  Craig  was  sent  them  instead,  who  remained 
part  of  the  year  1739.  The  next  two  years  the  Rev.  Samuel  Caven 
supplied  the  church  a  large  part  of  the  time,  during  which  a  Mr. 
Lynn  was  called,  but  was  not  settled.  Then  followed  in  succession  Rev. 
Messrs.  McDowell,  John  Robinson,  John  Hindman,  John  Blair,  Eliab 
Byram  and  William  Dean.  Then  the  Synod  of  New  York  was  formed  in 
consequence  of  the  unhappy  schism  in  the  church  ;  and  as  the  people  in 
this  region  were  more  in  sympathy  with  the  "New  Side"  they  were 
the  supplies  sent  by  the  new  Synod  of  New  York  that  principally  visited 
this  church  until  the  schism  was  healed.  Besides  the  visit  of  Dr.  Blair, it  en- 
joyed the  frequent,  but  brief,  services  of  such  distinguished  men  as  the 
Rev.  John  Roan,  Samuel  Finley,  Samuel  Blair  and  the  two  Tennents,  Gil- 
bert and  William.  Meanwhile  the  Old  Side  Synod  of  Philadelphia  and 
the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  continued  to  send  their  ministers,  but  as  their 
services  were  not  desired  their  visits  became  less  frequent. 

From  the  time  the  Opecquon  church  was  organized,  efforts  had  been 
made  to  obtain  a  pastor,  but  without  success.  In  1754  Licentiate  John 
Hoge,  the  cousin  of  Rev.  Moses  Hoge,  D.  D.,  was  called,  and  the  next 
year  was  ordained  and  installed.  He  retained  his  pastoral  relation  until 
April,  1772,  when  he  was  released.  The  vacancy  thus  created  continued 
until  1781,  but  during  that  period  the  church  was  supplied  at  intervals  by 
Rev.  Messrs.  Vance,  McKnight,  Balch,  Slemons,  Thompson,  Craighead 
and  Linn,  appointed  by  Donegal  Presbytery.  In  October,  1776,  a  call  was 
given  to  Rev.  Mr.  Slemons,  but  his  services  were  not  secured. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  99 

It  was  this  year  (1776)  that  Mr.  Fithian  visited  the  churches  in  this 
Valley.  He  stopped  in  Winchester  on  his  way  to  Opecquon  and  gives  us 
a  glimpse  of  the  town  at  that  time.     He  writes : 

"Monday,  May  22.  Winchester,  the  county  town  of  Frederick.  A 
smart  village  nearly  half  a  mile  in  length,  and  several  streets,  broad  and 
pretty  full.  The  situation  is  low  and  disagreeable.  There  is  on  a  pleas- 
ant hill  northeast  from  the  town,  at  a  small  distance,  a  large  stone  Dutch 
Lutheran  church,  with  a  tall  steeple.  In  the  town  is  an  English  church. 
North  of  the  town  are  the  ruins  of  an  old  fort,  wasted  and  crumbled  down 
by  time.  The  land  is  good,  the  country  is  pleasant,  the  houses  in  general 
large." 

A  fortnight  later  he  made  a  longer  visit  in  Winchester,  of  which  he 
writes  : 

"Tuesday,  June  6,  1776.  After  dinner  with  Captain  Holmes  and 
Captain  Hunter,  I  rode  to  Winchester.  The  Court  was  sitting.  Mars,  the 
great  God  of  Battle,  is  now  honored  in  every  part  of  this  spacious  colony, 
but  here  every  presence  is  warlike — every  sound  is  martial — drums  beat- 
ing, pipes  and  bagpipes  playing  and  only  sonorous  and  venic  [sic]  music. 
Every  man  has  a  hunting  shirt,  which  is  the  uniform  of  each  company. 
Almost  all  have  a  cockade  and  bucktail  in  their  hats  to  represent  that  they 
are  hardy,  resolute  and  invincible  natives  of  the  woods  of  America.  The 
County  Committee  sat.  Among  other  resolves  they  passed  this  resolute 
and  trying  determination:  'That  every  member  of  this  county  between 
sixteen  and  sixty  years  of  age,  shall  appear  every  month  at  least,  in  the 
field  under  arms,  and  it  is  recommended  to  all  to  muster  weekly  for  their 
improvement.'  June  8  x  x  x  x  Today,  for  the  first  time,  I  went 
through  the  'new  exercise,'  gave  the  word  and  performed  the  action. 
One  shipe  of  this  town  was  backward  this  morning  in  his  attendance  with 
the  company  of  Independents.  A  file  was  sent  to  bring  him.  He  made 
resistance,  but  was  compelled  at  length,  and  is  now  in  great  fear  and  very 
humble  since  he  heard  many  of  his  towsmen  talk  of  tar  and  feathers." 

The  name  of  Winchester  in  connection  with  Presbyterianism  first  ap- 
pears in  existing  records  in  October,  1779.  The  Rev.  John  McKnight  is 
appointed  to  supply  here.  Two  years  later  ( 1781 )  it  had  become  large  enough 
and  important  enough  to  be  named  with  Opecquon  and  Cedar  Creek  in  the 
call  extended  to  Rev.  John  Montgomery  of  Hanover  Presbytery.  From 
this  the  inference  is  fair,  that,  for  some  time  previous  to  that  date,  wor- 
ship was  statedly  held  in  the  town.  But  it  is  certain  that  from  this 
time  until  a  separate  organization  was  secured,  Winchester  is  always  asso- 


100  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

ciated  with  the  two  above-named  churches  as  a  place  of  prominent  import- 
ance in  the  combined  pastoral  charge. 

Mr.  Montgomery  remained  the  pastor  of  this  charge  until  1789.  He 
was  a  man  of  attractive  character  and  an  instructive  preacher,  and  by 
reason  of  his  faithful  service  the  cause  of  Presbyterianism,  both  in  town 
and  county,  made  satisfactory  progress.  In  the  town  especially  its  growth 
was  very  considerable.  It  was  during  his  ministry  here  that  Lexington 
Presbytery  was  erected,  and  the  churches  around  Winchester,  and  includ- 
ing Winchester,  were  turned  over  to  it  from  Donegal.  The  Synod  of  Vir- 
ginia also,  and  the  General  Assembly  were  organized  while  Mr.  Montgomery 
was  pastor  here. 

The  Rev.  Nash  Legrand  was  next  called  and  began  his  ministry  here 
in  1790.  Up  to  this  time,  Winchester  had  been  merely  an  appendage  of 
Opecquon,  but  its  growth  in  numbers  had  now  given  it  an  importance  de- 
manding more  recognition  than  it  had  hitherto  received.  Services  were 
held  in  town  more  frequently  than  formerly  and  sometimes  they  were  ar- 
ranged for  independently  of  the  parent  church.  Under  the  successful  min- 
istry of  Mr.  Montgomery  the  congregation  had  so  increased  that  a  more 
commodious  place  of  gathering  became  a  necessity,  and  before  his  ministry 
closed  arrangements  were  made  for  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship  that 
would  meet  the  growing  requirements  of  the  town.  The  old  stone  church, 
still  standing  in  good  repair,  at  the  eastern  end  of  Piccadilly  street,  is  the 
house  that  was  then  built.  Though  not  entirely  completed  it  was  ready 
for  use  in  1790,  and  the  Synod  of  Virginia  met  in  it  in  the  fall  of  that  year. 
That  old  church,  though  no  longer  used  for  Presbyterian  worship  is  a 
building  of  unusual  historic  interest.  Besides  the  distinguished  men  who, 
as  pastors,  have  occupied  its  pulpit — Legrand,  Hill  and  Riddle — nearly 
all  the  famous  Presbyterian  ministers  of  our  country  from  1790  to  1834 
have  preached  within  its  walls.  It  was  honored  by  a  meeting  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  1799 — the  only  place  out  of 
Philadelphia  (with  a  single  other  exception)  in  which  for  a  period  of  almost 
fifty  years  that  venerable  court  had  ever  met.  The  Synod  of  Virginia  has 
met  in  it  eleven  times — more  frequently  than  in  any  other  church  whatever. 
In  it,  October,  1791,  during  a  session  of  the  Synod,  the  Rev.  Archibald 
Alexander,  D.  D.,  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel.  In  it  also  the 
Presbytery  of  Winchester  was  organized  in  1794. 

To  this  statement  it  may  be  of  interest  to  add,  that  in  the  year  1834 
(October  13)  the  old  church,  with  ten  feet  of  ground  at  each  end  and  fif- 
teen feet  in  the  rear,  was  sold  for  the  use  of  the   Baptist    church   for   500 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  101 

years.  In  1858  they  sold  it  to  the  cowed  Baptist  church,  and  it  is  now 
leased  by  the  School  Board  of  Winchester  for  the  use  of  the  Colored  Pub- 
lic School.  During  the  war  between  the  States  it  was  completely  disman- 
tled and  used  as  a  stable  for  the  Federal  troops. 

The  first  pastor  to  occupy  the  pulpit  of  the  new  church  was  Mr.  Le- 
grand.  But  the  popularity  that  always  attended  his  ministry  in  the  coun- 
try portion  of  his  charge  was  not  so  fully  accorded  him  in  the  town.  He 
had  not  been  very  long  settled  in  his  pastorate  before  differences  and  then 
dissensions  began  between  him  and  some  of  his  members  here.  These 
were  due  in  part,  though  not  altogether,  to  his  extreme  views  touching  re- 
vivals— a  matter  much  discussed  in  the  church  at  that  time.  He  was  a 
pronounced  revivalist.  His  preaching  was  mostly  confined  to  a  limited 
range  of  topics,  and  he  freely  used  the  "new  measures"  then  commonly 
employed  to  promote  revivals.  Some  of  his  best  members  in  Winchester 
who  had  but  recently  arrived  from  the  old  country,  where  they  had  been 
accustomed  to  a  different  style  of  preaching,  and  where  revival  measures, 
as  conducted  here,  if  known  at  all,  were  disapproved,  looked  with  suspi- 
cion upon  his  methods  and  grew  weary  of  his  constant  and  passionate  ap- 
peals to  their  feelings.  Unfortunately,  Mr.  Legrand  had  no  tact  for  deal- 
ing with  those  who  had  taken  offence.  The  alienation  which  had  begun 
increased  until  there  was  an  open  rupture.  He  asked  Lexington  Presby- 
tery to  release  him  from  his  pastoral  charge,  but  at  the  organization  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Winchester  he  was  persuaded  to  withdraw  that  request. 
Gradually  he  curtailed  the  number  of  his  appointments,  and  about  the  year 
1797  or  8  he  withdrew  his  services  altogether  from  Winchester. 

As  early  as  1791,  before  any  breach  had  occurred,  the  people  in  Win- 
chester, with  a  view  to  more  frequent  service  than  the  pastor  of  Opecquon 
and  Cedar  Creek  was  able  to  give  them,  had  opened  negotiations  with 
Cool  Spring  church  (Gerrardstown.)  to  unite  in  securing  a  minister  who 
would  give  his  entire  time  to  these  two  places.  Cool  Spring  had  even 
gone  so  far  as  to  petition  Carlisle  to  allow  that  church  to  be  transferred  to 
Lexington  that  this  scheme  might  be  more  easily  carried  out.  But  for 
some  reason  unknown  to  us,  the  plan  failed  of  accomplishment.  Later  the 
people  here,  acting  independently,  but  apparently  with  the  approval  of 
Presbytery,  extended  calls  to  several  ministers,  neither  of  whom  could  be 
secured  until  in  1800  the  opposing  factions  came  together  and  made  out  a 
unanimous  call  for  Rev.  William  Hill,  of  Charlestown,  who  promptly  ac- 
cepted, and  the  same  year  was  settled  in  the  charge  which  he  retained  for 
thirty-four  years.  The  church  in  Winchester  was  organized  September  7, 
1800,  though  it  was  counted  as  one  of  the  churches  of  Winchester  Presby- 
tery when  that  Presbytery  was  organized  six  years  before. 


102  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 


XX.  LEESBURG. 

This  church  comes  first  into  notice  under  another  name,  and  that  a 
name  not  at  all  suggestive  of  Presbyterianism,  viz:  '  'The  Parish  of  Came- 
ron." The  county  of  Loudoun  was  laid  off  in  1757,  and  Leesburg,  the 
county  seat,  was  established  by  law  one  year  later.  But  the  "English 
Church,"  as  the  Protestant  Episcopal  was  then  generally  called,  had  di- 
vided the  county  into  "parishes,"  and  the  county  seat  was  embraced  in 
the  Parish  of  Cameron  ;  and  it  was  by  that  name  that  it  was  commonly 
called.  This  parish,  with  that  of  Shelbourne,  in  the  southwest  angle  of 
the  county,  contained  some  Presbyterian  families  who  desired  to  enjoy 
again  their  own  form  of  worship.  These  two  parishes,  therefore,  either 
by  a  joint  petition  or  by  independent  requests  that  happened  to  go  up  to 
the  same  meeting,  supplicated  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  for  supplies. 
That  the  same  supply  was  appointed  for  both  fields  may  be  taken  as  evi- 
dence that  a  joint  petition  was  sent.  The  minute  recording  the  action  of 
these  people  is,  for  October,  1780.  "Supplications  for  supplies  from  the 
Parish  of  Shelburn  in  Virginia,  and  from  the  Parish  of  Cameron  in  Loudoun 
County  were  presented."  In  answer  to  their  petition,  Licentiate  Samuel 
Waugh  was  appointed  to  supply  them  until  the  next  spring.  Subsequent 
to  this  action  we  find  this  minute,  the  exact  date  of  which  is  in  doubt, 
viz:  "The  Parish  of  Cameron  in  Loudoun  County  sends  an  application  rep- 
resenting their  sad  destitution  and  stating  that  they  had  made  choice  of 
Mr.  Waugh,  a  Licentiate  of  this  Presbytery,  to  be  their  minister,  and  pray- 
ing the  Presbytery's  concurrence,"  etc.  Whereupon  "Presbytery  appointed 
Mr.  Waugh  to  supply  them  until  its  next  meeting,  and  appointed  parts  of 
trial  for  his  ordination  at  that  time."  Unfortunately,  their  expectations 
respecting  Mr.  Waugh  were  disappointed.  He  accepted  a  call  to  two 
churches  in  Pennsylvania,  in  the  service  of  which  his  whole  ministry  was 
spent.  He  was  a  man  of  sterling  character,  a  careful  student,  and  accept- 
able preacher  and  faithful  pastor. 

In  the  next  minute  touching  this  field,  the  name  of  Leesburg  appears 
for  the  first  and  only  time.  When  the  Rev.  David  Bard  was  dismissed 
from  the  charge  of  the  Kittocktin  and  Gum  Spring  churches,  June,  1782, 
he  "  was  ordered  by  the  committee  that  had  released  him,  to  supply  Lees- 
burg until  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery."  As  that  town  was  his  native 
place,  it  is  quite  probable  that  Mr.  Bard  complied  with  this  order,  and  that 
Leesburg  had  his  services  until  the  next  October. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  103 

This,  so  far  as  we  know  with  certainty,  was  the  beginning  of  Presby- 
terian worship  in  that  important  town.  And  yet,  if  it  is  admissable  to  go 
outside  the  Records,  it  seems  not  unlikely  that  Rev.  Amos  Thompson,  and 
his  successors  at  Kittocktin,  had  held  frequent  services  in  Leesburg  before 
Donegal  had  been  asked  for  supplies.  Their  readiness  to  call  Mr.  Waugh 
so  soon  after  their  first  petition  was  sent,  is  strong  proof  that  they  must 
already  have  had  some  kind  of  an  organization,  and  that  they  considered 
themselves  strong  enough  to  sustain  a  minister.  Of  its  history  for  the  next 
twenty  years  very  little  is  known.  The  tradition  is — and  perhaps  it  is  a 
matter  of  record — that  the  Leesburg  church  was  organized  by  the  Rev. 
James  Hall,  D.D.,  of  North  Carolina,  in  or  about  1804,  when  he  was  on 
one  of  his  numerous  journeys  from  near  Charlotte,  N.  C,  to  the  General 
Assembly  at  Philadelphia.  During  thirty  years  he  attended  the  Assembly 
as  a  commissioner  sixteen  times,  though  the  distance  and  hardships  of  travel 
were  so  great.  He  made  the  journey  in  his  gig,  and  that  vehicle  became 
quite  familiar  to  the  people  living  along  his  route,  which,  in  Virginia,  lay 
through  the  counties  of  Culpeper,  Fauquier,  and  Loudoun.  Whenever  it 
was  possible  to  do  so,  he  preached,  and  frequently  at  Leesburg.  And  the 
tradition  is,  that  on  one  of  these  famous  journeys  he  stopped  in  that  town 
long  enough  to  hold  a  protracted  meeting  and  organize  the  Presbyterians 
into  a  church. 

Leesburg  was  not  assigned  to  the  Presbytery  of  Winchester  at  the 
time  of  its  organization.  None  of  the  congregations  in  the  Northern  Neck 
east  of  the  Blue  Ridge  were.  This  was  done  two  or  three  years  later,  when 
the  Presbytery  began  to  send  supplies  to  the  vacancies  over  there.  Lees- 
burg does  not  appear  in  the  minutes  as  a  place  to  be  supplied,  or  other- 
wise, for  six  or  seven  years,  though  as  afterward  appears,  it  was  claimed 
by  the  Presbytery  as  one  of  the  churches  over  which  its  supervision  was 
extended.     Rev.  John  Mines  was  its  first  regular  pastor. 


XXI.  GERRARDSTOWN. 

The  first  reference  we  find  to  this  important  church  is  in  the  minutes 
of  Donegal  for  April,  1783,  and  then  it  comes  to  our  notice  under  a  name 
almost  unknown  to  this  generation — "Cool  Spring."  This  spring  is  four 
or  five  miles  south  of  Gerrardstown  on  what   is   known   as   the    "Runny- 


104  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

meade  Farm,"  which  has  been  owned  for  fifty  years  or  more  by  Mr. 
Wilson  Coe.  It  was  there  that  the  Gerrardstown  church  was  founded. 
The  date  at  which  Presbyterian  worship  began  there  cannot  now  be  ascer- 
tained, nor  do  we  know  by  whom  this  worship  was  first  conducted.  It  is 
pretty  evident,  however,  that  service  must  have  been  held  at  this  place, 
and  with  some  regularity,  a  considerable  time  before  the  congregation  first 
comes  to  our  notice,  for  it  first  comes  to  us  as  an  established  congregation, 
asking  that  a  certain  minister  be  appointed  to  supply  it,  with  a  view  to  his 
being  called  as  the  pastor,  and  that  minister  one  of  the  most  eminent  of 
that  day,  the  Rev.  John  McKnight,  who  had  just  been  released  from  Elk 
Branch.  This  request  was  a  joint  one  from  Cool  Spring  and  Bullskin,  and 
indicates  that  these  new  people,  of  whom  we  have  heard  nothing  before, 
had  no  little  confidence  in  their  strength  and  their  ability  to  do  their  share 
in  sustaining  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel. 

The  next  reference  to  Cool  Spring  is  in  April,  1791,  when  it  overtures 
the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  to  consent  to  its  transfer  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Lexington  in  order  that  it  may  join  with  Winchester  ( already  in  Lexington 
Presbytery )  in  securing  a  minister  who  would  give  his  whole  time  to  those 
two  places  as  a  new  and  separate  pastoral  charge.  We  are  not  told  what 
answer  Carlisle  returned  to  this  overture,  though  the  probability  is  that  it 
was  granted.  The  General  Assembly  the  next  year  (1792)  made  the  Po- 
tomac River  the  dividing  line  between  the  Synods  of  Philadelphia  and  Vir- 
ginia, thus  throwing  all  the  churches  south  of  the  Potomac  into  the  Synod 
of  Virginia,  except  the  church  of  Alexandria,  whose  Synodical  relations 
were  left  unchanged.  But  while  the  desire  of  Cool  Spring  for  a  change  of 
its  Presbyterial  relations  was  secured,  its  proposed  joint  action  with  Win- 
chester in  the  effort  to  obtain  a  pastor  was  not  accomplished. 

As  we  have  not  access  to  the  Records  of  Lexington,  under  whose 
jurisdiction  this  congregation  had  passed,  we  have  no  further  official  ref- 
erence to  it  until  the  organization  of  Winchester  Presbytery.  Yet  there  is 
an  interesting  fact  in  its  history,  for  the  knowledge  of  which  we  are  in- 
debted to  Dr.  Foote.  This  church,  which  from  the  first  had  such  vigor, 
and  which,  as  we  have  seen,  manifested  such  zeal  to  secure  a  pastor, 
seemed  at  length  to  have  had  their  hopes  crowned  with  success.  They  had 
arranged  in  1793  for  the  settlement  of  a  most  promising  young  minister, 
Rev.  Thomas  Poage,  a  licentiate  of  Lexington,  the  youngest  son  of  Mr. 
John  Poage,  of  Augusta  County,  and  a  brother-in-law  of  Rev.  Moses  Hoge. 
He  had  just  been  married  and  was  about  to  remove  to  Gerrardstown  to  be- 
gin his  pastoral  work,  when,  on  the  first  of  October,1793,  he  was  suddenly 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  105 

stricken  down  by  death.  To  add  to  the  pathos  of  his  early  removal  under 
circumstances  so  affecting,  his  aged  mother,  long  an  invalid,  sank  under 
the  shock,  and  in  a  few  weeks  followed  her  son  to  the  grave.  It  was  six 
years  later  before  a  pastor  was  actually  settled  at  Gerrardstown.  In  1799 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Glass,  just  licensed  by  Winchester  Presbytery,  was  called, 
and  labored  acceptably  among  these  people  for  many  years. 

The  removal  of  the  church  from  Cool  Spring  to  the  growing  village 
of  Gerrardstown  occurred  about  the  time  of  Mr.  Poage's  lamented  death. 
But  while,  by  reason  of  the  removal,  its  name  was  changed,  it  still  was 
not  called  Gerrardstown,  but  "Middletown,"  and  by  this  name  it  was  en- 
rolled as  one  of  the  original  churches  of  Winchester  Presbytery.  Just  when 
it  was  regularly  organized  as  a  church  cannot  be  stated  with  certainty,  but  it 
is  thought  to  have  been  before  the  removal  took  place.  Its  first  Ruling 
Elders  were  Messrs.  William  Wilson,  Matthew  Rippey  and  Samuel  Mc- 
Kown. 

As  soon  as  the  removal  was  decided  upon,  measures  were  taken  for  a 
suitable  House  of  Worship;  and  the  large  brick  building,  lately  replaced 
by  the  present  handsome  church,  was  begun.  It  was  not  completed,  how- 
ever, for  many  years  after;  but  as  soon  as  the  walls  were  run  up,  and  the 
roof  on,  and  the  doors  and  windows  in,  and  before  the  floors  were  laid,  a 
temporary  pulpit  was  arranged,  and  they  began  to  use  it  as  a  place  of  wor- 
ship— the  congregation,  as  one  of  those  early  worshippers  related  the  facts 
to  me,  sitting  on  the  sills  and  sleepers  with  their  feet  resting  on  the  ground, 
and,  even  in  the  coldest  weather,  without  fire. 


jNfc. 


XXII.  CHARLESTOWN. 

Charlestown  gets  its  name  from  Col.  Charles  Washington,  who  owned 
the  land  on  which  it  was  laid  out.  He  was  the  brother  of  Gen.  George 
Washington.  The  town  is  older  than  the  county,  of  which  it  is  the  county 
seat.  It  was  established  in  1786,  and  one  year  after  we  meet  the  name 
for  the  first  time  in  Ecclesiastical  Records.  A  supplication  for  ministerial 
supplies  was  sent  up  from  this  place  to  Carlisle  Presbytery  in  1787.  This 
was  probably  the  first  direct  effort  made  by  the  people  in  that  town  to  ob- 
tain regular  Presbyterian  worship  for  themselves.      Those  of  our  faith  and 


106  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

order  who  resided  in  or  near  the  place  —and  they  had  now  become  quite 
numerous — had  been  accustomed  to  attend  worship  either  at  Bullskin  or 
Elk  Branch,  the  two  places  being  about  equally  distant. 

But  the  movement  of  this  people  toward  independent  and  permanent 
worship  did  not  stop,  indeed,  it  did  not  begirt,  with  their  request  for  a 
preacher;  they  had  already  made  arrangements  to  secure  a  place  for  preach- 
ing. In  the  same  year  in  which  their  petition  went  up  to  Presbytery  they 
purchased  from  Charles  Washington,  for  "£20  current  money  of  Virginia," 
a  piece  of  land,  in  the  South-western  part  of  Charlestown,  on  which  to  build 
a  Presbyterian  church.  The  deed  for  this  property  was  signed  and  de- 
livered February  17,  1787,  and  was  "ordered  to  be  recorded  at  a  court  held 
for  Berkeley  County  the  18th  day  of  April,  1787."  The  original  deed 
laid  in  the  office  of  the  clerk  of  that  county  for  almost  one  hundred  years. 
In  1885  it  was  discovered  among  the  papers  in  that  office  and  is  now  in 
the  keeping  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Charlestown  church.  The 
deed  was  made  "to  David  Kennedy,  John  White,  Peter  Burr  and  Jacob 
Conchlin  (farmers),"  "at  the  suit,  and  for  the  use  of  the  Charlestown  con- 
gregation of  Presbyterians."  On  the  lot  thus  purchased  a  small  stone  build- 
ing was  erected,  which,  in  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century,  was  re- 
placed by  a  more  commodious  structure,  also  built  of  stone.  When  the 
present  large  and  handsome  church  was  built  in  1852  the  old  church  was 
sold  to  the  late  Maj.  W.  J.  Hawkes,  who  had  it  taken  down,  stone  by 
stone,  and  re-erected  on  another  site,  in  exactly  its  original  form,  and  was 
used,  until  very  recently,  as  a  carriage  factory. 

It  was  with  this  proposed  equipment  for  religious  work  and  worship 
that  the  little  band  of  Presbyterians  in  Charlestown  made  their  first  appli- 
cation to  Presbytery  for  recognition.  What  arrangement  was  made  for 
their  supply,  now  that  they  felt  themselves  important  enough  to  be- 
come a  distinct  congregation,  we  do  not  know.  The  minutes  are  silent  as 
to  any  response  from  Presbytery.  But  that  they  received  supplies  with  a 
good  deal  of  regularity,  and  that  they  soon  had  some  kind  of  an  organiza- 
tion among  themselves,  seem  clear  from  the  fact  that  only  four  years  later 
(in  1791)  Charlestown  was  an  important  member  of  that  group  of  congre- 
gations which  applied  for  and  secured  the  services  of  William  Hill,  a  licentiate 
of  Hanover  Presbytery,  then  working  under  direction  of  the  "Commission 
of  Synod."  This  group  was  composed  of  Bullskin,  Charlestown  and 
Hopewell.  Altogether  the  membership  was  not  large,  but  the  field  offer- 
ed many  attractions  to  such  an  active  and  enterprising  preacher  as  young 
Hill.     His  labors  for  the  "Commission"  had  made  him  widely  known'  in 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  107 

all  parts  of  the  State,  and  numerous  calls  from  important  fields  were  urged 
upon  his  acceptance,  and  the  fact  that,  from  among  them  all,  he  selected 
this  one  from  the  Lower  Valley,  is  proof  of  the  estimate  he  placed  upon 
the  prospect  for  substantial  growth  which  that  field  presented. 

This  call  introduces  in  our  history  one  of  the  most  distinguished  names 
to  be  found  on  our  Presbyterial  roll. 

William  Hill  was  of  English  ancestry,  the  son  of  Joseph  Hill,  of  Cum- 
berland County,  Va.,  and  was  born  in  that  county  March  3,  1769.  Pre- 
pared for  college  by  Drury  Lacy,  he  was  graduated  in  1788  from  Hamp- 
den-Sidney,  then  under  the  presidency  of  John  Blair  Smith.  He  made  a 
public  profession  of  religion  while  a  student  in  college  and  his  mind  was  at 
once  turned  to  the  ministry,  his  studies  for  which  were  pursued  under  the 
direction  of  President  Smith.  After  his  licensure  by  Hanover  Presbytery, 
July  10,  1790,  he  entered  upon  missionary  work  under  the  Commission  of 
the  Synod  of  Virginia.  During  the  two  years  nearly  that  he  continued  in 
this  work  he  visited  pretty  much  all  the  missionary  fields  in  the  State,  from 
the  Chesapeake  Bay  to  the  crest  of  the  Alleghanies.  A  part  of  this  time 
was  spent  in  the  counties  in  the  lower  end  of  this  Valley,  where  he  made 
the  acquaintance  of  the  people  among  whom  the  great  work  of  his  long 
and  laborious  life  was  performed.  He  was  settled  in  Charlestown  in  1792, 
and  in  October  of  that  year  was  married  to  Nancy,  daughter  of  Colonel 
William  Morton,  of  Charlotte  County,  Va.,  with  whom  he  lived  in  tender- 
est  affection  for  almost  sixty  years.  Her  death,  which  occurred  in  May, 
1851,  preceded  his  own  by  only  eighteen  months. 

From  his  pastoral  charge  at  Charlestown,  Mr.  Hill  was  released  May 
15,  1799,  having  been  induced  to  undertake  missionary  work  west  of  the 
Ohio  River.  Before  his  departure,  however,  he  was  unanimously  called 
to  the  recently  organized  church  in  Winchester.  The  circumstances  at- 
tending this  call  were  such  that  he  was  constrained  to  abandon  his  plan 
of  going  West  and  he  removed  to  Winchester,  where  he  remained  until 
1834,  when  he  tendered  his  resignation  and  removed  to  Prince  Edward 
County.  After  preaching  for  awhile  at  the  Old  Briery  Church,  he  became 
stated  supply  for  a  time  of  the  second  church  in  Alexandria;  but  after  two 
or  three  years'  absence  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Winchester,  where 
he  remained  until  his  death,  November  16,  1852.  His  remains  were  in- 
terred in  Mount  Hebron  Cemetery. 

Dr.  Hill  was  a  man  of  commanding  personality.  Above  the  average 
height,  and  finely  proportioned,  his  appearance,  even  in  old  age,  was  im- 
posing.    His  vigorous   intellect,  impressive   oratory,  and   skill  in  debate, 


108  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

made  him  a  power  in  all  the  courts  of  his  church.  Having  strong  convic- 
tions, which  he  was  never  afraid  to  avow,  and  possessed  of  a  temperament 
that  could  brook  no  opposition,  it  is  not  surprising  that  he  sometimes  found 
himself  in  collision  with  men  of  the  same  determination  with  himself. 
Both  in  his  Presbytery,  and  in  the  church  to  which  most  of  his  long  minis- 
try was  given,  he  was  often  in  sharp  and  prolonged  controversy  with  his 
brethren.  He  was  an  able,  and  when  thoroughly  aroused,  a  popular  and 
very  powerful  preacher,  and  was  very  successful  in  his  earnest  efforts  to 
extend  and  strengthen  the  church. 

"In  1816  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred 
upon  him  by  Dartmouth  University.  Some  of  his  brethren  used  jocosely  to 
tell  him  that  his  title  to  D.D.  was  not  valid,  because  the  institution  that 
gave  it  had  no  legal  existence,  and  subsequently  died  by  a  decree  of  court" 
(Sprague). 

In  1819  he  was  moderator  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  during  his 
long  life  was  the  recipient  of  many  honors  from  his  church. 

Some  interesting  particulars  connected  with  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Hill 
at  Charlestown  are  given  in  his  missionary  diary  and  in  the  minutes  of 
Lexington  Presbytery.  For  these  we  are  indebted  to  the  sketches  of  Dr. 
Foote.  He  was  chosen  a  missionary  by  the  Commission  of  Synod 
September  21,  1790,  and  until  the  next  April  labored  east  of  the  Blue 
Ridge.  Then  he  was  ordered  "  to  itinerate  the  districts  of  Hanover  and 
Lexington  for  six  months."  In  obedience  to  this  order,  he  visited  the 
counties  of  Richmond,  Lancaster,  Northumberland,  Prince  William,  Faq- 
quier,  and  others;  then  crossing  to  the  head  waters  of  the  James,  he  jour- 
neyed northward  through  Bath,  Pendleton  and  Hardy,  and  then  across  the 
mountains  into  Frederick  and  Berkeley.  Resting  a  few  days  at  Cedar 
Creek,  with  his  friend  Legrand,  he,  on  Thursday,  the  15th  of  September, 
1791,  entered  the  field  in  which  nearly  the  whole  of  the  remainder  of  his 
life  was  to  be  spent.  On  that  day  he  preached  at  Bullskin;  the  next  day 
in  Charlestown  "to  a  small  congregation,"  and  at  night  "at  Mr.  John 
White's,  an  old  Israelite,  indeed,  whose  house  could  not  contain  the  peo- 
ple, whose  attention  was  very  great."  On  Saturday  he  preached  at  Mr. 
Peter  Martin's,  and  spent  that  night  with  Moses  Hoge  at  Shepherdstown, 
for  whom  he  preached  the  next  morning  (Sabbath),  and  in  the  evening  for 
Mr.  Vance  at  Martinsburg.  The  next  day  ( Monday )  he  preached  at  Tus- 
carora,  and  on  Wednesday,  the  21st,  at  Winchester,  in  the  church  he  after- 
ward occupied  for  so  many  years.  "  Many  could  not  get  into  the  house, 
and  had  to  return  home  without  hearing  the  sermon."     The  next  Sunday 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  109 

he  assisted  at  the  communion  at  Cedar  Creek,  and  on  Wednesday,  the 
28th,  he  met  the  Synod,  and  the  Commission  of  Synod,  in  Winchester, 
where  he  was  taken  sick,  and  could  not  resume  his  labors  until  November. 

Before  the  adjournment  of  Synod,  Mr.  Hill  learned  definitely  of  the 
reception  his  preaching  in  the  Charlestown  field  had  met.  An  earnest  call 
for  his  pastoral  services  was  presented  to  him,  and  accepted,  but  with  the 
understanding  that  he  could  not  enter  upon  the  work  until  he  was  released 
from  his  engagement  with  the  Commission  of  Synod.  This,  and  the  con- 
dition of  his  health,  would  occasion  some  delay.  He  therefore  arranged 
with  his  friend,  Archibald  Alexander,  who  was  present  for  licensure  by 
Lexington  Presbytery,  to  occupy  the  field  until  he  was  ready  to  take  charge 
of  it  himself.  Mr.  Alexander  entered  upon  this  work  the  next  week,  and 
continued  it  until  the  next  spring,  preaching  there  and  in  neighboring  con- 
gregations without  remuneration. 

It  was  not  until  April  9,  1792,  that  Mr.  Hill  was  able  to  make  report 
of  his  mission  and  resign.  Hanover  Presbytery  received  him  back  from 
the  Commission  of  Synod,  and  transferred  him  to  the  care  of  Lexington 
Presbytery  for  his  settlement  in  the  field  to  which  he  had  been  called. 
When  the  Presbytery  of  Lexington  met  for  this  purpose  at  Charlestown, 
May  28,  1792,  it  was  found  that  the  credentials  of  Mr.  Hill  had  not  arrived. 
But  upon  the  testimony  of  a  minister  that  he  was  present  in  Hanover  Pres- 
bytery when  the  proper  papers  were  ordered  and  made  out,  Mr.  Hill  was 
received  and  his  examination  for  ordination  was  begun.  The  next  day  he 
preached  his  trial  sermon  in  Charlestown  from  /  John,  5:10.  On  May  30th 
the  ordination  services  were  held  in  the  Episcopal  church,  a  mile  or  so  from 
Charlestown,  the  ruins  of  which  are  still  standing  on  the  Smithfield  turn- 
pike. Mr.  Hoge  preached  from  the  text  "  Thou,  therefore,  endure  hard- 
ness as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ,"  and  gave  the  charge.  It  is  not 
certain  that  Mr.  Hill  was  regularly  installed,  but  he  was  officially  placed 
in  charge  of  the  congregations  of  Bullskin,  Hopewell  and  Charlestown;  and 
served  them  with  all  that  wonderful  zeal  and  ability  for  which,  through  his 
whole  ministerial  life,  he  was  so  distinguished. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Hill's  settlement,  the  Elk  Branch  church,  which  had 
been  for  some  time  vacant,  was  partitioned  between  Charlestown  and 
Shepherdstown.  This  was  in  1792,  and  added  very  materially  to  the  size 
and  strength  of  both  congregations.  What  change  this  accession  of  .mem- 
bership made  in  the  organization  at  Charlestown  we  do  not  know.  There 
are  no  records  extant  that  enable  us  to  say:  It  is  not  unlikely  that  Mr. 
Hill  availed  himself  of  this  increase,  which  included  one  or  more  ruling 


110  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

elders,  to  effect  a  complete  organization  of  his  church,  though  this  may 
already  have  been  done;  for  the  date  of  that  organization  is  a  question 
which  cannot  now  be  decided.  There  is  a  minute  in  the  Records  of  Win- 
chester Presbytery  for  October  6,  1815,  which  says,  "  Presbytery  received 
information  through  Mr.  Matthews,  that  since  the  last  meeting  a  Presby- 
terian church  had  been  organized  at  Charlestown. ' '  But  the  proof  is  posi- 
tive that  there  was  an  organization  there  more  than  twenty  years  before 
that  date.  When  the  Presbytery  was  erected  Charlestown  was  named  as 
one  of  the  "churches"  that  had  a  pastor.  In  February,  1795,  an  elder 
from  this  church  had  a  seat  in  Presbytery.  And  when  Mr.  Hill  tendered 
his  resignation,  May  15,  1799,  it  was  not  until  the  Presbytery  was  satisfied 
' '  that  the  previous  measures  required  by  the  discipline  of  our  church  had 
been  taken, ' '  that  Presbytery  ' '  granted  his  request  and  released  him  from 
his  pastoral  charge."  The  Presbyterial  minute,  so  far  as  it  implies  a  first 
organization  in  1815,  is  unquestionably  an  error.  The  minutes  of  a  con- 
gregational meeting  held  earlier  in  that  year — and  which  have  been  pre- 
served— show  conclusively  that  it  was  a  ' '  reorganization  ' '  for  which  the 
people  had  asked.  Charlestown  was  an  important  church  on  the  roll  of 
Winchester  Presbytery  at  its  formation. 


A. 


XXIII.  MARTINSBURG. 

Although  Martinsburg  is  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  the  Valley  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  one  of  the  largest  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  largely  settled 
originally  by  Scotch-Irish,  and  very  many  of  whose  leading  families  were 
Presbyterian,  yet  no  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  there  until  Decem- 
ber 25,  1824.  The  county  of  Berkeley  was  formed  in  1772;  and  this  town 
was  laid  out  by  Adam  Stephen,  esq.,  about  1774,  and  was  established  by 
law  in  1778.  Rev.  P.  V.  Fithian,  from  whose  diary  we  have  frequently 
quoted,  visited  Martinsburg  in  1776,  when  the  whole  country  was  astir  with 
excitement  and  preparation  for  the  great  war  then  in  progress.     He  writes: 

"  May  19,  1776.  This  village  (Martinsburg)  is  yet  in  infancy.  Two 
years  ago  the  spot  was  high  woods.  There  are  now  perhaps  thirty  houses. 
They  have  already  built  a  prison  of  stone  and  strong;  and  are  making  a  Court 
House  of  no  inconsiderable  size  and  elegance.     Probably  if  American  lib- 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  Ill 

erty  be  established,  for  which  we  are  now  contending  even  in  blood,  this, 
with  many  other  infant  villages,  in  a  series  of  years,  will  be  prosperous  and 
wealthy  towns, especially  if  the  navigation  of  this  long  river  can  be  effected. ' ' 

The  town  derived  its  name  from  Col.  T.  B.  Martin,  a  nephew  of  Lord 
Fairfax.  It  is  not  likely  that  a  nephew  of  Lord  Fairfax  should  be  a  Pres- 
byterian. But  in  the  Records  of  Donegal  for  April,  1785,  there  is  a  min- 
ute in  which  a  "  Mr.  Thomas  Martin,  of  Martinsburg,  Va.,"  is  mentioned 
as  calling  up  a  certain  judicial  case,  the  nature  of  which  is  not  stated,  but 
which  the  Presbytery,  after  some  consideration,  "referred  to  the  Synod 
for  judgment."  Turning  to  the  Records  of  Synod  for  more  definite  infor- 
mation, we  find  for  May  19,  1785,  this  interesting  minute,  viz:  "  The  fol- 
lowing question,  referred  to  Synod  by  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  for  their 
decision,  was  brought  in  by  the  Committee  of  Overtures,  viz:  '  Whether 
on  full  proof  of  adultery  by  one  party,  the  Presbytery  has  a  right  to  declare 
the  marriage  so  far  void,  as  that  the  innocent  party  may  marry  again  with- 
out being  liable  to  church  censure?'  And  after  some  time  spent  in  debat- 
ing the  case,  it  was  moved,  and  agreed,  that  each  member  should  speak  to 
the  question  in  the  order  of  the  roll.  After  which  the  vote  was  put,  and 
the  question  carried  in  the  affirmative,  by  a  small  majority  "  (p.  509). 

This  matter  may  have  no  direct  connection  with  the  history  of  the 
church,  or  with  any  individual  member  of  the  church  in  Martinsburg.  It 
is  given  here  to  show  how  our  church  in  the  latter  half  of  the  eighteenth 
century  sometimes  thought  and  acted.  It  has  the  more  importance  because 
the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  seventeen  years  before  this,  April,  1758,  had 
'  'judged  that  a  Presbytery  could  absolve  a  church  member  from  his  cov- 
enant of  marriage,"  and  the  Synod  of  that  year,  in  reviewing  the  records, 
had  taken  exception  to  this  action. 

It  is  not  until  1792  that  any  mention  of  Martinsburg  in  connection  with 
religious  worship  is  found  in  the  Presbyterial  minutes.  In  that  year  "sup- 
plications from  Tuscarora  for  themselves,  and  for  Mayiinsburg,  and  Back 
Creek"  were  presented  to  Carlisle  Presbytery  ;  and  that  single  minute  is  all 
that  we  find  in  the  Records  of  either  that  Presbytery  or  of  Synod,  touch- 
ing the  matter  until  the  organization  of  Winchester  Presbytery. 

From  this,  however,  it  is  not  to  be  assumed  that  no  Presbyterian  wor- 
ship was  held  at  that  time  in  Martinsburg.  The  contrary  we  know  to  be 
the  fact.  It  was  with  that  town,  as  with  so  many  others  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  this  Valley.  The  prevailing  custom  was  to  plant  the  first  church  in 
the  country  ;  and  such  members  as  were  in  the  neighboring  towns  would 
go  out  to  that  church  to  worship.     It  was  so  at  Winchester,  Gerrardstown, 


112  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

and  Charlestown.  And  it  was  so  at  Martinsburg.  The  Presbyterians  re- 
siding there  held  their  membership  at  Tuscarora.  But,  as  was  the  case 
everywhere  else,  these  town  members  as  soon  as  practicable  arranged  for 
frequent,  if  not  stated,  worship  at  home.  Beginning  with  a  weekly  prayer- 
meeting,  an  occasional  sermon  would  soon  be  secured  and  at  length  a  reg- 
ular appointment  for  Divine  worship  would  be  made.  That  this  was  the 
condition  of  things  in  Martinsburg  might  be  safely  inferred  from  the  fact, 
not  only  that  one  of  the  principle  Tuscarora  elders,  Mr.  William  Riddle, 
had  his  home  there,  but  from  the  further  fact  that  the  Tuscarora  pastor 
himself,  who  at  first  lived  at  the  eastern  base  of  the  North  Mountain,  had 
moved  his  residence  to  the  town.  It  follows,  as  a  matter  of  course,  that 
such  a  zealous  and  faithful  pastor  as  Hugh  Vance,  would  not  fail  to  furnish 
all  possible  church  privileges  for  the  people  of  his  own  charge  among  whom 
he  lived.  When  Mr.  Hill  preached  in  Martinsburg  Sabbath  evening,  Sep- 
tember 19,  1791,  there  is  no  intimation  that  such  a  service  was  anything 
unusual.  He  seems  to  have  filled  the  regular  appointment  for  that  day, 
though  the  pastor  was  too  ill  to  conduct  the  service  himself.  That  such 
service  had  become  a  regular  thing,  at  least  as  early  as  1792,  and  that  Martins- 
burg was  then  one  of  the  stated  appointments  of  Presbytery,  is  evident  from 
the  fact  that  when  in  that  year  the  General  Assembly  had  made  the  Poto- 
mac River  the  dividing  line  between  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  and  the 
Synod  of  Virginia,  the  Presbytery  of  Lexington  reported,  that  in  conse- 
quence of  that  action  she  had  "added  the  churches  of  Carmel  (/.  e.  Shep- 
herdstown),  Martinsburg,"  etc.,  to  her  roll. 


XXIV.  FRONT  ROYAL. 

Front  Royal  is  the  county  seat  of  Warren  County.  It  nestles  snugly 
in  a  beautiful  cove,  among  the  western  foot-hills  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  near 
the  confluence  of  the  North  and  South  Forks  of  the  Shenandoah.  The 
name  is  peculiar  and  many  inquiries  are  made  as  to  its  origin.  Our 
inquiries  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  no  one  now  can  answer  this  question 
with  certainty.  There  are,  however,  two  traditions  which  profess  to 
account  for  the  name,  both  running  back  to  the  eve  of  the  Revolutionary 
War.     One  throws  suspicion   upon  the  patriotism  of  the  people  and  is, 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  113 

therefore,  generally  discarded.  The  accepted  tradition  is,  that,  in  the  drill 
of  soldiers  in  preparation  for  the  war  then  impending,  a  certain  officer,  whose 
knowledge  of  tactics  hardly  measured  up  to  his  rank,  was  training  his  men 
in  the  public  square  where  stood  an  unusually  large  specimen  of  the  Royal 
Oak.  Wishing  his  company  to  execute  a  certain  manoeuvre  which  required 
them  to  face  in  a  certain  direction,  he  could  not  recall  the  proper  com- 
mand, became  confused  and  in  his  chagrin  blurted  out  abruptly  and  hotly, 
"  Front  the  Royal."  This  order  became  a  by- word  which  was  jestingly 
fastened  upon  the  village,  and  as  the  phrase  "Front  Royal"  was  picturesque 
and  not  wanting  in  euphony,  the  villagers  wisely  drew  from  the  joke  its 
sting  by  adopting  that  as  the  name  for  their  town. 

This  name,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  does  not  appear  in  any  Ecclesias- 
tical Records  until  after  the  erection  of  this  Presbytery,  and  yet  the  con- 
gregations of  which  it  is  the  successor  had  an  existence  several  years  earlier. 
These  congregations  were  known  as  "South  River"  and  "Flint  Run."  Of 
their  origin  and  of  their  history,  prior  to  about  1789,  we  have  no  reliable 
information.  When  the  Presbytery  was  formed  in  1794  the  two  "churches" 
of  South  River  and  Flint  Run,  then  supporting  a  minister,  were  assigned  to 
its  care.     The  location  of  each  is  definitely  known. 

South  River ' '  was  about  two  miles  south  of  Front  Royal  on  the  road 
leading  to  Luray.  Persons  still  living  remember  an  old  log  church  which 
stood  on  an  eminence  overlooking  the  South  Fork  of  the  Shenandoah 
River,  from  its  proximity  to  which  it  derived  its  name.  That  old  building 
has  long  since  gone  to  utter  decay,  and  no  one  knows  now  by  whom  it  was 
built  or  by  whom  it  was  owned.  But  from  the  manuscript  diary  of  "Parson" 
Williamson  which  we  have  read,  it  is  quite  certain  that  this  was  the  '  'South 
River  Church"  in  which  he  preached  for  so  many  years  in  his  early  minis- 
try, and  that  it  was  a  "Union  Church"  in  which  Baptists  and  Methodists 
also  preached. 

"Flint  Run"  is  a  stream  three  or  four  miles  further  south,  coming 
down  from  the  Blue  Ridge  and  emptying  into  the  Shenandoah.  There  is 
no  vestige  of  a  church  building  there  now,  nor  is  there  any  tradition  that 
there  ever  was  one  there.  From  the  diary  just  referred  to,  it  appears  that 
all  the  appointments  of  Mr.  Williamson  on  Flint  Run  were  made  at  private 
houses.  While  at  each  of  these  places  there  was  a  good  number  of  Pres- 
byterian families,  and  frequent  services  were  held  at  both,  yet  the  inference 
is  a  fair  one,  that  Flint  Run  was  regarded  as  of  secondary  importance  and 
rather  an  appendage  of  South  River  than  an  independent  church.  There 
is  no  evidence  of  any  elders  there,  nor  of  any  regular  organization. 


114  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

The  people  living  at  each  of  these  places  seem  to  have  been  among 
the  most  prominent  and  prosperous  of  all  that  region,  and  showed  great 
zeal  in  the  support  of  their  church.  At  what  period  Presbyterian  worship 
was  begun  among  them,  we  have  no  means  of  determining,  nor  do  we  know 
by  whom  services  were  held  before  Mr.  Williamson  came  to  the  field,  be- 
yond the  fact  of  an  occasional  appointment  by  Mr.  Montgomery  and  Mr. 
Legrand  of  Opecquon.  But  under  the  earnest  and  faithful  ministry  of  Mr. 
Williamson  this  charge  soon  grew  into  great  importance.  His  ministry  here 
began  in  1792  ;  before  that  time  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  proper  church 
organization  existed  at  either  place.  We  do  not  meet  with  the  name  of  any 
elder  until  November  29,  1794,  when  James  Perry  and  William  Bailey  were 
elected,  and  the  next  day  were  ordained.  From  the  first,  services  were 
held  statedly  and  were  well  attended.  When  the  Presbytery  was  formed 
the  two  places  were  giving  their  minister  a  support,  though,  as  in  the  case 
of  nearly  all  the  preachers  of  that  time,  his  salary  was  supplemented  by 
the  proceeds  of  a  school  which  he  conducted.  The  new  Presbytery  evi- 
dently regarded  this  field  as  one  of  the  most  promising  within  its  bounds. 
Its  second  meeting  was  adjourned  to  meet  at  South  River,  and  the  fourth 
meeting  also.  It  was  the  first  place  in  which  the  Presbytery  held  a  second 
meeting.  As  there  was  nothing  in  the  business  of  either  of  these  meetings 
requiring  a  session  at  that  place,  these  frequent  adjournments  to  South 
River  must  be  taken  as  a  proof  of  the  prosperity  and  importance  of  the 
church  at  that  time.  It  deserves  notice  here,  that  of  the  three  ruling  elders 
in  attendance  at  the  first  meeting  of  Winchester  Presbytery, one,  Mr.  James 
Perry,  was  from  the  South  River  church. 

When  the  services  were  transferred  from  South  River  Meeting  House 
to  Front  Royal,  and  the  town  became  the  central  place  of  worship,  we  do 
not  know.  The  change  was  probably  a  gradual  one  and  must  have  begun 
soon  after  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery.  At  that  time  appointments 
for  preaching  began  to  be  made  at  the  "School  House"  which  was  in  the 
village,  and  in  October,  1795,  the  first  movement  was  made  for  obtaining 
a  subscription  for  the  building  of  a  Presbyterian  Church  at  Front  Royal. 
When  the  Presbytery  was  in  session  at  South  River  in  June,  1796,  it  one 
day  adjourned  to  Front  Royal  for  an  afternoon  session.  This  is  the  first 
time  we  meet  with  that  name  in  the  Church  Records.  A  few  years  later 
the  name  of  South  River  disappears  and  that  of  Front  Royal  takes  its  place. 

Before  closing  our  sketch  of  this  church  it  may  be  of  interest  to  state, 
that  while  we  have  been  concerned  mainly,  if  not  exclusively,  with  the 
planting  and  growth  of  Presbyterianism  in  Warren  County,  we  have  not 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  115 

been  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  other  branches  of  the  Christian  Church  were 
also  actively  at  work  there.  Both  Baptist  and  Methodists  were  strong  rivals 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  This  may  have  been  the  case  everywhere, 
or  almost  every wheres  else.  But  as  the  evidence  of  this  denominational 
competition  did  not  appear  in  other  cases,  no  reference  has  been  made  to 
such  a  fact.  But  in  the  region  of  Front  Royal  the  case  is  different.  For 
much  that  we  know  of  that  region  we  are  indebted  to  the  diary  of  Mr.  Wil- 
liamson and  in  that  diary  constant  mention  is  made  of  meetings  held  at  South 
River  and  Flint  Run,  and  Front  Royal  by  Methodist,  and  especially  by 
Baptist,  preachers.  Mr.  Williamson  writes  of  his  frequent  attendance  at  their 
services,  and  though  often  expressing  his  dissent  from  their  teaching  and  his 
disapproval  of  some  things  in  their  worship,  yet  his  reference  to  them  is 
always  made  in  the  kindest  spirit,  and  his  relations  to  them  seem  always  to 
have  been  of  the  most  fraternal  character.  The  simple  fact  we  want  to 
bring  out  in  this  statement  is  that  in  planting  our  church  within  these 
bounds,  the  Presbyterians  did  not  have  the  field  to  themselves.  In  some 
cases  the  Episcopal,  and  in  others  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  Churches 
dispute  with  them  the  claim  to  precedence.  Even  when  our  preachers 
were  first  on  the  ground,  the  probability  is  that  ministers  of  other  denom- 
inations soon  appeared  to  look  after  the  interests  of  the  peeple  of  their  own 
faith  and  order. 

Rev.  William  Williamson,  the  real  founder  of  the  Front  Royal  church, 
was  a  Scotchman  by  birth,  born  in  Edinburg  about  1764,  and  obtained  his 
collegiate  and  professional  education  in  his  native  land.  He  had  just  grad- 
uated in  law  and  had  obtained  his  license  to  practice,  when  several  young 
men,  with  whom  he  had  been  associated  in  the  university,  proposed  to  him 
to  go  with  them  to  America.  In  accepting  their  proposal  it  was  without 
the  most  remote  idea  on  his  part  of  remaining  in  this  country.  But  the  long 
and  stormy  voyage,  during  the  whole  of  which  he  was  desperately  sick,  so 
disgusted  him  with  the  ocean  that  he  could  never  be  induced  to  cross  it 
again.  When  he  reached  New  York  he  had  to  be  carried  in  a  blanket  from 
the  ship  to  the  hotel,  where  for  a  long  time  he  was  confined  to  a  sick  bed. 
When  able  to  travel  he  came  to  Virginia  and  engaged  in  teaching  in  Lan- 
caster County.  He  was  converted  on  the  ocean  and  at  once  decided  to 
give  himself  to  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel.  Accordingly,  soon  after  his 
settlement  in  Virginia,  he  began,  with  characteristic  diligence,  a  course  of 
study  preparatory  to  his  high  calling,  under  the  direction,  probably,  of  the 
ministers  supplying  or  visiting  the  churches  in  that  part  of  the  Northern 
Neck.     At  the  first  opportunity  that  offered,  in  the  spring  of  1792,   he 


116  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

attended  a  meeting  or  Hanover  Presbytery  in  order  to  be  taken  under  its 
care  as  a  candidate.  But  when  the  Presbytery  entered  upon  his  exam- 
inations they  found  him  so  proficient  in  all  branches  of  study  that  he  was 
pronounced  ready  for  licensure,  and,  as  he  writes,  "contrary  to  his  expec- 
tations and  desire,"  they  did  license  him.  This  was  done,  according  to 
the  entry  in  his  own  diary,  May  12,  1792,  although  every  other  authority 
gives  October  12-,  1792  as  the  date.  After  his  licensure  he  preached  for 
a  few  months  in  the  neighborhood  of  Gordonsville,  when  he  crossed  over 
into  the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah  and  began  his  long  and  successful  labors 
in  Warren  County.  The  necessity  of  being  fully  qualified  for  ministerial 
work  in  this  field  soon  forced  itself  upon  him,  and  in  the  fall  of  the  next 
year  he  met  his  Presbytery  in  Cumberland  church,  stood  his  examinations, 
preached  his  trial  sermon  from  II.  Cor.,  5:20  and  was  ordained  to  the  full 
work  of  the  ministry  November  11,  1793.  Rev.  Drury  Lacy  preached 
the  ordination  sermon  and  delivered  the  charge. 

Returning  to  his  field,  he  entered  upon  his  duties  with  renewed  zeal. 
His  labors  were  not  confined  to  South  River  and  Flint  Run,  but  were  given 
to  points  far  and  near  that  were  asking  for  preaching.  Frequent  appoint- 
ments were  made  for  Powell's  Fort,  Woodstock,  Stoverstown  (Strasburg), 
Weavers  Mill,  Front  Royal  and  other  places.  Besides  these  engagements, 
long  and  exhausting  journeys  were  made  to  the  mountains  west  of  Capon 
River  and  to  the  counties  east  of  the  Ridge. 

To  give  the  advantages  of  education  to  the  young  men  of  his  section 
and  to  increase  his  insufficient  income,  he  opened  (March  17,  1794)  an 
English  and  classical  school  at  Front  Royal,  which  was  well  patronized. 
That  it  might  not  interfere  with  his  ministerial  duties,  he  employed  an 
assistant,  who  was  himself  abundantly  competent  to  carry  on  the  school. 
After  some  years  he  was  induced  to  transfer  his  school  to  Loudoun  County, 
near  Middleburg,  where  it  soon  acquired  an  enviable  reputation  for  thor- 
oughness and  excellence,  and  contributed  largely  to  his  influence  for  good 
over  those  who  came  under  his  instruction. 

Mr.  Williamson  was  a  man  of  uncommon  energy  and  endurance.  He 
was  ready  for  any  demand  upon  him,  though  his  health  was  never  robust. 
Neither  distance,  nor  weather,  nor  bodily  infirmity  could  deter  him  from 
meeting  an  appointment,  if  it  were  possible  for  him  to  reach  it.  A  ride  of 
forty  miles,  with  a  sermon  or  two,  was  no  unusual  task  for  a  single  day; 
and  this  often  with  a  storm  to  breast,  a  mountain  to  cross,  and  swollen 
rivers  to  swim. 

He  was  a  strong  man  both  in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  courts  of  the  church, 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  117 

and  everywhere  a  bold  and  able  advocate  and  defender  of  the  Presbyterian 
polity  and  faith.  He  was  a  ready  and  convincing  speaker.  In  debate  his 
vigorous  mind  acted  with  great  promptness.  His  voice  was  strong,  his 
enunciation  clear,  and  under  excitement  his  action  was  vehement.  A  fellow 
Presbyter  writes  of  him,  that  "  in  argument  he  excelled  all  men  in  his  Pres- 
bytery, and  in  strength  of  style  and  expression  he  had  no  superior.  His 
sermons — never  dull — were  often  overpowering.  The  ablest  men  in  the 
community  that  listened  to  him,  and  most  of  them  did,  felt  that,  in  point 
of  intellect  and  information,  he  was  their  peer"  (Foote,  II,  315). 

His  appearance  and  manner  in  the  pulpit,  and  the  matter  of  his  dis- 
course made  him  an  impressive  preacher  even  to  children.  A  venerable 
lady,  the  widow  of  the  late  Giles  Cook,  sr.,  still  living  in  Front  Royal  at  a 
very  advanced  age,  often  attended  his  ministry  in  her  childhood,  and  dis- 
tinctly remembers  some  of  the  texts  from  which  he  preached,  and  even 
some  of  the  striking  expressions  in  his  sermons  and  the  hymns  he  gave  out . 
He  was  a  man  of  devout  spirit  and  deep  piety,  having  a  most  humble  esti- 
mate of  himself  and  a  constant  sense  of  his  dependence  upon  God.  Singu- 
larly free  from  ambition,  he  devoted  himself  chiefly  to  missionary  work, 
and  after  a  life  of  great  usefulness  he  calmly  died  February  1,  1848,  in  the 
eighty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  and  in  the  fifty-seventh  of  his  ministry.  He 
was  buried  in  Warrenton,  Va. 

Mr.  Williamson  was  married  three  times:  first,  December  21,  1792,  to 
the  widow  Furman,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Colonel  Stevens,  of  New- 
town, Frederick  County,  Va.,  who  died  December  4,  1793,  leaving  an  infant 
daughter  who  survived  the  mother  less  than  two  years.  His  second  mar- 
riage, December  8,  1795,  was  with  Miss  Rebecca  Allen,  daughter  of  Col. 
William  Allen,  one  of  the  most  wealthy  and  influential  of  the  South  River 
congregation.  She  was  the  mother  of  three  children,  only  one  of  whom 
reached  maturity,  viz:  Dr.  Philip  Doddridge  Williamson,  a  physician  of 
Front  Royal,  and  a  man  of  remarkably  exemplary  and  lovely  character. 
His  third  wife  was  Miss  Sara  North  Newton  Moss,  of  Upperville,  Fauquier 
County,  Va.,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children,  seven  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. She  survived  him  fourteen  years,  dying  in  1862.  One  daughter  by 
this  marriage,  Miss  Catherine  Williamson,  of  Warrenton,  Va.,  still  survives 
him. 


118  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

XXV.  NORTHUMBERLAND  AND  LANCASTER. 

The  fact  is  probably  known  to  but  few  now  living,  that  there  were 
once  flourishing  Presbyterian  churches  in  the  extreme  eastern  point  of  the 
Northern  Neck  of  Virginia.  These  churches  were  in  the  counties  of  North- 
umberland and  Lancaster,  both  of  which  counties  are  washed  on  the  east 
by  the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay.  It  is  possible,  also,  that  there  were 
churches  of  our  faith,  as  it  is  certain  there  was  frequent  Presbyterian 
preaching  in  the  two  counties  just  above  these,  viz:  Richmond  and  West- 
moreland. Of  the  planting  of  these  churches,  and  of  their  earliest  history, 
we  have  no  certain  information.  It  has  been  suggested  that  they  had  their 
origin  in  the  faithfulness  and  zeal  of  John  Organ,  a  pious  schoolmaster  from 
Scotland,  who  had  made  his  home  somewhere  in  the  Northern  Neck,  and 
who,  according  to  a  reliable  tradition,  introduced  the  worship  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  in  the  region  in  which  he  taught,  and  even  secured  for  a 
time  the  services  of  so  distinguished  a  minister  as  Rev.  James  Anderson, 
formerly  pastor  in  the  city  of  New  York.  But  as  neither  the  precise  time 
of  Mr.  Organ's  labors  in  Virginia  nor  the  place  of  his  residence  is  known, 
his  relation  to  the  churches  of  which  we  are  now  treating  cannot  be  posi- 
tively affirmed.  It  is  probable  he  did  not  take  up  his  residence  there 
earlier  than  1730. 

Our  first  definite  knowledge  of  any  Presbyterian  interest  in  the  lower 
Northern  Neck  goes  no  further  back  than  January,  1757;  and  for  almost 
all  the  knowledge  we  have,  we  are  indebted  partly  to  the  Records  of  Han- 
over Presbytery,  and  partly  to  a  fragment,  that  has  been  preserved,  of  a 
Journal  kept  by  Col.  James  Gordon,  of  Lancaster  County.  Colonel  Gor- 
don emigrated,  with  his  brother  John,  from  Newey,  Ireland,  sometime 
before  1740.  They  settled  on  opposite  sides  of  the  Rappahannock  River; 
James  in  Lancaster  County  and  John  in  Middlesex.  Both  were  intelligent 
and  enterprising  shipping  merchants,  and  each  attained  to  large  wealth  and 
influence.  Their  descendants  are  numerous,  and  some  of  them  highly  dis- 
tinguished, both  in  Virginia  and  elsewhere.  These  men  were  devoted 
Presbyterians,  and  the  character  and  lives  of  the  established  clergy  in  the 
region  where  they  settled,  constrained  them,  in  the  interest  of  vital  religion, 
to  secure  for  their  families  and  others  the  form  of  worship  in  which  they 
had  been  reared.  The  services  of  Presbyterian  ministers  were  obtained, 
and  in  spite  of  many  difficulties,  and  in  the  face  of  obloquy  and  persecution, 
the  Presbyterian  Church  was  finally  set  up  and  maintained  for  more  than  a 
hundred  years. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  119 

That  churches  were  organized  in  both  these  counties  is  very  certain, 
and  probably  in  Richmond  and  Westmoreland  also,  but  as  our  information 
touching  the  history  and  work  of  the  respective  churches  is  not  definite 
enough  to  enable  us  to  say  what  properly  belongs  to  one,  and  what  to  an- 
other, we  must  be  satisfied  to  treat  them  as  one  field — always  remembering 
that  the  church  at  Lancaster  C.  H.  was  the  largest  and  most  important  in 
the  group. 

When  these  churches  first  come  to  our  notice,  it  is  evident  that  they 
had  already  been  established  for  some  time  and  one  or  more  of  them  had 
attained  to  considerable  strength.  The  first  mention  of  either  of  them  is 
for  April  27,  1757.  Hanover  Presbytery  receives  "an  importunate  appli- 
cation from  persons  in  and  around  Richmond  County,"  and  appointed 
Rev.  Samuel  Davies  to  preach  there  in  June.  In  July  of  the  same  year  a 
similar  application  came  from  Northumberland  and  Lancaster  and  Mr. 
Samuel  Davies  was  sent  to  spend  several  weeks  in  the  Northern  Neck. 
The  next  year  (1758)  Rev.  Henry  Patillo  was  directed  to  spend  several 
Sabbaths  there  in  April  and  also  in  June  and  July.  Mr.  Davies  was  ap- 
pointed to  preach  there  again  in  the  Fall  of  1758,  and  also  to  hold  a  sacra- 
mental meeting  the  next  March.  And  so  from  meeting  to  meeting  of 
Presbytery,  applications  are  made  from  these  four  counties,  and  supplies 
are  sent,  until  the  Fall  of  1762,  when  the  Rev.  James  Waddel  was  settled 
as  pastor  and  remained  until  1778. 

The  entries  in  Col.  Gordon's  Journal  begin  January,  1759,  and  end 
December  31,  1763,  and  are  most  interesting  and  instructive  as  exhibiting 
the  zeal  of  the  people  and  the  growth  of  the  church.  We  find  that  they 
were  favored  repeatedly  with  the  ministerial  services  of  such  men  as  Samuel 
Davies,  John  Todd,  the  Messrs.  Martin,  Hunt,  Kilpatrick,  Henry,  and  that 
distinguished  patriot,  Rev.  James  Caldwell,  who  was  afterwards  barbarous- 
ly murdered  in  New  Jersey;  in  fact,  every  minister  of  Hanover  Presbytery 
preached  with  more  or  less  frequency  to  these  people. 

Equally  interesting  are  the  names  of  the  families  composing  these 
churches,  some  of  them  among  the  most  honored  and  influential  in  the 
colony,  such  as  Selden,  Carter,  Watson,  Robertson,  Mitchell,  Belvard, 
Shackelford,  Wright,  Morris,  Criswell,  Graftemead,  Glasscock,  Flood, 
Chichester,  Thornton,  Gordon,  and  others.  Many  of  these  gentlemen 
could  be  relied  on  to  conduct  worship  when  a  minister  could  not  be  secured. 
Such  entries  as  these  are  frequent  in  Col.  Gordon's  Journal,  "Sunday,  May 
3,  1761.  This  day  Col.  Selden  read  a  sermon  in  the  meeting  house  and 
John  Mitchell  prayed."  Again,  "Mr.  Criswell  read  a  sermon  and  prayed 
at  the  meeting  house,"  and  so  repeatedly. 


120  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

Not  a  few  indications  are  found  that  piety  in  the  household  was  care- 
fully cultivated.  We  meet  with  this  entry,  e.g.  "Sunday,  January  31, 
1762.  At  home  with  my  family.  Molly  said  all  the  Shorter  Catechism. 
James,  fifty-six  of  the  Larger,  and  Mollie  Herring  one  hundred  and  six." 

As  giving  some  clue  to  the  numerical  strength  of  these  churches  we  are 
told  that  at  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  one  of  them 
(supposedly  the  one!at  Lancaster  Court  House),  there  were  present  March 
25,  1759,  besides  the  visitors,  54  communicants;  at  another  time  53,  not 
counting  the  visitors;  again  "20  new  communicants  and  50  old  ones;" 
again,  "about  70  black  and  white,  though  the  day  was  rainy."  Again 
"the  communion  was  administered  to  90  white  and  23  black  communicants," 
and  still  later  (September  11,  1763),  "to  about  115  white  and  35   black." 

The  meetings  in  Northumberland  were  first  held  in  a  store-room  owned 
by  Col.  Gordon,  but  in  1761  a  commodious  meeting  house  was  erected,  to 
the  building  of  which  the  Lancaster  church  freely  contributed. 

It  is  almost  a  regular  entry,  that  when  proper  notice  was  given  and 
the  weather  was  not  unfavorable,  the  congregations  which  gathered  at  these 
services  were  very  large.  When  the  meeting  was  held  at  a  private  house 
the  attendance  often  was  greater  than  the  house  could  hold. 

In  June,  1762,  we  are  told,  "a  lottery  was  drawn  for  the  advantage  of 
the  congregation,  and  in  a  satisfactory  manner,"  for  which  the  good 
colonel  adds,  "Blessed  be  God." 

February  27,  1763,  the  following  gentlemen  were  elected  Ruling  Elders 
in  the  Lancaster  church,  viz:  Mr.  Chichester,  Thomas  Carter,  Dale  Carter, 
John  Mitchell,  Col.  Selden  and  Col.  Gordon. 

The  planting  of  our  church  in  Eastern  Virginia  was  effected  under 
conditions  vastly  different  from  those  which  prevailed  west  of  the  Blue 
Ridge.  In  the  Valley  ours  was,  to  a  large  extent,  the  pioneer  church. 
There  were  no  hostile  interests  from  which  serious  opposition  was  to  be  en- 
countered. But  in  the  tide- water  region  the  case  was  altogether  different. 
There  the  English  church  was  established  by  law,  and  "dissent"  in  what- 
ever form  was  frowned  upon  and  opposed.  In  some  places  it  was  inter- 
dicted altogether.  The  restrictions  under  which  at  last  it  was  allowed  to 
have  an  existence  were  severe  and  humiliating,  and  it  required  strong  con- 
victions and  no  little  courage,  to  endure  the  persecution  and  ridicule  to 
which  all  dissenters  were  subjected.  The  Presbyterians  in  the  Northern 
Neck  felt  the  full  force  of  this  opposition.  Their  attempt  to  introduce  dis- 
senting worship,  where  the  Established  church  claimed  exclusive  jurisdic- 
tion, was  openly  resisted.     And  from  the  first  they  were  subjected  to  a 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  121 

bitter  persecution,  both  of  violence  and  contempt.  The  Gordons  and  a  few 
others  of  kindred  spirit  met  this  with  a  resolution  born  of  faith  in  God. 
But  there  were  many  whose  courage  failed  in  the  hour  of  trial.  While  the 
effort,  to  establish  a  church  at  Northumberland,  was  still  an  experiment, 
Col.  Gordon  returned  from  a  meeting  there  and  made  this  entry  in  his 
Journal,  "went  to  meeting  today,  a  pretty  large  company  of  common  peo- 
ple and  negroes,  but  very  few  gentlemen.  The  gentleme  n  who  were  inclined 
to  come  are  afraid  of  being  laughed  at.  Mr.  Minzie  [the  rector]  endeavors 
to  make  it  such  a  scandalous  thing."  When  his  own  church  was  closed 
Col.Gordon  and  his  family  were  accustomed  to  attend  the  English  church, 
but  once  he  makes  this  entry,  "Sunday.  At  home  with  my  wife  and  family 
where  I  have  much  more  comfort  than  going  to  church,  hearing  the  minis- 
ters ridicule  the  dissenters."  Though  a  man  of  even  temper  and  courteous 
speech,  he  once  under  their  coarse  and  abusive  treatment  of  himself  and 
friends,  is  provoked  to  write,  "they  behaved  like  blackguards."  Every- 
thing possible  was  done  to  prevent  the  success  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
The  business  interests  of  its  members  were  interfered  with.  Threatening 
and  scurrilous  letters  were  written  by  the  clergy  to  the  preachers  who  ven- 
tured within  their  parishes.  Sermons  were  largely  taken  up  with  the  abuse 
of  those  dissenting  from  the  Established  Church.  Evangelical  religion 
was  ridiculed  as  bigotry  and  fanaticism.  Farces  were  written  and  played 
in  caricature  of  Presbyterianism.  Under  such  difficulties  and  discourage- 
ments it  is  a  wonder  that  our  church  survived;  yet  its  growth  was  steady 
and  even  rapid. 

Though  served  for  many  years  by  supplies  from  Hanover  Presbytery 
or  by  missionaries,  these  churches  made  frequent  and  earnest  efforts  to  se- 
cure a  pastor  for  themselves  whom  they  were  well  able  to  support.  These 
efforts,  however,  failed  until  in  1762,  Licentiate  James  Waddel  was  induced 
to  settle  among  them,  and  under  his  wise  and  able  ministry  they  entered 
upon  a  new  era  of  prosperity,  though  the  persecutions  to  which  they  had 
been  subjected  in  no  wise  ceased. 

Mr.  Waddel,  "The  Blind  Preacher,"  whom  Mr.  Wirt  in  the  British 
Spy  has  immortalized,  was  born  at  Newry,  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  in  July, 
1739.  In  his  infancy  he  was  brought  to  America  by  his  parents,  who  set- 
tled on  White  Clay  Creek,  Pa.  His  mother  was  a  devotedly  pious  Pres- 
byterian. An  injury  to  his  left  hand,  received  in  his  boyhood,  which  dis- 
qualified him  for  manual  labor,  decided  his  father  to  give  him  a  liberal 
education.  This  he  obtained  largely  at  the  Academy  at  Nottingham,  Md., 
taught  by  Dr.  Samuel  Finley,  afterward  President  of  Nassau  Hall.     Such 


122  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

was  his  proficiency,  especially  in  the  classics,  that  at  an  early  age  he  was 
made  an  assistant  in  the  school.  Here  he  was  admitted  to  the  commun- 
ion of  the  church.  Resolved  to  devote  himself  to  teaching,  he  set  out  to 
find  a  settlement  in  the  South.  In  Hanover  County,  Va.,  he  met  Rev. 
Samuel  Davies,  by  whom  he  was  persuaded  to  change  his  plans  and 
devote  himself  to  the  ministry.  He  entered  at  once  upon  his  theolog- 
ical studies  under  direction  of  Rev.  John  Todd,  of  Louisa  County,  and 
was  licensed  by  Hanover  Presbytery  at  Tinkling  Spring,  April  2,  1761.  In 
October  of  the  next  year  he  was  settled  over  the  churches  in  the  counties 
of  Lancaster  and  Northumberland,  and  was  ordained  in  Prince  Edward 
June  16,  1763. 

When  this  settlement  was  made,  Mr.  Waddel  looked  upon  it  as  only 
a  temporary  arrangement.  Both  his  convictions  and  his  inclinations  were 
in  favor  of  a  field  of  labor  in  Pennsylvania.  But  such  were  the  spiritual 
destitutions  of  the  region,  and  such  the  hospitality,  intelligence  and  piety 
of  the  people  among  whom  he  labored  that  his  reluctance  to  making  his 
permanent  home  in  the  Northern  Neck  was  soon  overcome.  His  people 
found  in  him  everything  they  could  desire  in  a  minister  and  treated  him 
with  every  mark  of  affectionate  regard.  About  the  year  1768  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mary,  daughter  of  his  elder,  Col.  James  Gordon, who 
shortly  afterward  established  him  in  a  new  and  commodious  house  on  the 
Curratoman  River.  It  soon  became  evident,  however,  that  his  health 
would  not  endure  that  malarial  climate.  He  suffered  each  year  from  an 
attack  of  intermittent  fever,  and  often  preached  when  he  was  hardly  able 
to  stand.  This,  together  with  the  ravages  of  war,  to  which  the  location  of 
his  home  made  him  peculiarly  exposed,  led  him,  in  the  early  years  of  the 
war,  to  ask  his  Presbytery  to  release  him  from  his  pastoral  charge. 

As  soon  as  his  unsettled  condition  became  known,  calls  for  his  serv- 
ices reached  him  from  many  fields.  And  the  fact  is  of  special  interest  to 
us,  that  the  congregations  of  Opecquon  and  Cedar  Creek,  in  whose  bounds 
Colonel  Gordon  owned  valuable  lands,  sent  up  an  earnest  call  for  him  as 
early  as  April  14,  1774,  which  he  declined.  A  call  two  years  later  from 
Tinkling  Spring  was  finally  accepted,  and  in  1778  he  removed  his  fam- 
ily to  that  place.  Seven  years  afterwards,  in  1785,  he  returned  to  East- 
ern Virginia  and  made  his  home  near  Gordons ville,  where  the  remainder 
of  his  life  was  spent,  part  of  which  was  passed  in  total  blindness.  Rev. 
William  Williamson,  who  was  his  intimate  friend,  tells  us  in  his  diary,  that 
on  a  visit  to  him  early  in  1795  he  found  his  sight  seriously  impaired,  and 
in  the  summer  of  that  year  it  was  entirely  gone.     His  loss  of  sight,  how- 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  123 

ever,  did  not  keep  him  from  the  pulpit,  and  he  continued  to  preach  until 
his  last  protracted  illness,  which  ended  in  his  death  of  Christian  triumph, 
September  17,  1805. 

In  1792  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  on  Mr.  Wad- 
del  by  Dickinson  College  at  Carlisle,  Pa. 

It  was  in  the  early  ministry  of  Dr.  Waddel,  viz  :  in  the  late  summer 
of  1763,  that  George  Whitefield  made  his  celebrated  visit  to  the  Northern 
Neck,  staying  there  for  more  than  a  week  and  preaching  to  crowded 
houses.  But  while  his  preaching  made  a  profound  impression  and  many 
were  added  to  the  churches,  we  are  somewhat  surprised  to  learn  that  the 
more  intelligent  people  of  these  congregations  were  not  carried  away  with 
his  eloquence  as  they  were  everywhere  else.  They  admired  his  fervent  zeal, 
but  did  not  hesitate  to  declare  their  preference  for  that  style  of  preaching 
to  which  they  had  become  accustomed  under  the  ministry  of  Samuel 
Davies  and  James  Waddel.  Indeed,  we  learn,  in  connection  with  this  visit 
that  this  great  preacher  was  not  without  some  great  faults.  Among  the 
most  conspicuous  was  his  inordinate  self-appreciation.  In  his  letters,  writ- 
ten to  Mr.  Waddel  after  his  visit,  he  does  not  conceal  his  high  estimate  of 
himself  as  a  chosen  instrument  for  the  spread  of  the  Gospel.  In  his  account 
of  the  wonderful  results  of  his  preaching  he  annexes  to  almost  every  sen- 
tence several  notes  of  admiration.  (!!!)  These,  however,  are  only  flies 
in  the  ointment  of  the  apothecary.  He  was  sound  in  his  theology  and 
eminently  scriptural  in  his  preaching.  Whatever  defects  may  have  been 
found  in  his  Calvinism  in  his  early  ministry,  it,  at  last,  was  such  as  to 
satisfy  even  Toplady,  who  pronounced  him  "a  sound  divine." 

Of  Mr.  Waddel' s  eloquence  as  a  preacher  nothing  more  need  be  writ- 
ten after  Mr.  Wirt's  famous  sketch  of  his  sermon  in  the  meeting-house  in 
the  woods,  with  which  every  reader  is  presumed  to  be  familiar.  Among 
his  contemporaries  whose  judgment  is  entitled  to  weight,  he  was  looked 
upon  as  without  a  superior  in  the  pulpit.  Patrick  Henry  was  accustomed 
to  say  that  Davies  and  Waddel  were  the  greatest  orators  he  ever  heard. 
Gov.  James  Barbour,  of  Virginia,  declared  that  Mr.  Waddel  surpassed  all 
orators  he  ever  knew.  His  brother  Phillip  Barbour,  and  many  others, 
held  the  same  opinion.  It  has  sometimes  been  asked  if  the  accomplished 
author  of  the  British  Spy  did  not  avail  himself  of  the  license  of  fiction  in 
his  sketch  of  the  sermon  he  heard  ?  But  Mr.  Wirt  himself  is  on  record  as 
saying,  that  "so  far  from  adding  colors  to  the  picture  of  Dr.  Waddel' s 
eloquence,  he  had  fallen  below  the  truth,"  and  declared  that  "though  his 
oratory  was  of  a  different  species,  it  was  fully  equal  to  that  of  Patrick 


124  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

Henry."  It  was  the  opinion,  however,  of  Dr.  A.  Alexander  ( who  married 
his  daughter )  that  '  'the  preaching  of  Dr.  Waddel,  which  was  so  greatly 
admired  by  the  intelligent  and  refined,  did  not  equally  attract  and  move 
the  illiterate  and  ignorant.  Often  such  would  prefer  hearing  the  unedu- 
cated declaimer." 

It  is  with  sadness  we  record  that  these  churches,  once  so  flourishing, 
are  now  extinct.  After  the  removal  of  Mr.  Waddel  to  the  Valley  of  the 
Shenandoah  and  the  death  of  Col.  Gordon  they  visibly  declined  and  finally 
were  pretty  much  absorbed  by  the  Baptists,  the  prevailing  denomination 
in  that  part  of  the  Northern  Neck.  The  decline  of  these  churches  was  due 
largely  to  the  fact  that  the  estates  of  our  people,  lying  near  the  two  navi- 
gable rivers  and  the  bay,  were  peculiarly  exposed  to  the  ravages  of  British 
vessels  during  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  The  property  of  the  wealthy 
Presbyterian  planters  and  merchants  was  carried  away  and  their  families 
were  reduced  from  affluence  to  poverty.  After  the  organization  of  Win- 
chester Presbytery  supplies  were  sent  regularly  to  Lancaster  and  North- 
umberland for  fifty  years  or  until  our  churches  there  had  entirely  ceased  to 
exist. 


The  congregations,  whose  early  history  we  have  here  been  trying  to 
trace,  embrace  all  within  our  Presbyterial  bounds,  to  which,  according  to 
official  records,  missionaries  or  supplies  were  sent,  and  over  some  of  which 
pastors  were  settled  prior  to  December  4,  1794.  Doubtless  there  were 
other  places  at  which  supplies  sometimes  preached,  or  at  which  pastors 
may  have  had  stated ,  appointments,  as  e.  g.  Strasburg,  Woodstock, 
Powell's  Fort,  etc.,  where  as  we  learn  from  the  diary  of  Mr.  Williamson, 
he  and  Mr.  Legrand,  and  perhaps  others,  occasionally  preached.  But  this 
was  not  by  Presbyterial  appointment  and  up  to  the  time  of  the  organiza- 
tion of  Winchester  Presbytery,  these  places  had  not  developed  sufficient 
ecclesiastical  importance  to  entitle  them  to  special  notice  in  this  history  nor 
are  they  mentioned  in  the  Presbyterial  Records. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  125 

And  now  that  we  have  reached  the  period  of  our  Presbyterial  organi- 
zation, let  us  take  a  hasty  survey  of  the  field  committed  to  the  oversight 
of  this  new  judicatory.     In  this  survey  we  will  find  that — 

Presbyterianism  made  greater  advances  in  the  Valley  than  in  Eastern 
Virginia.  In  the  whole  of  the  Northern  Neck  there  were  now  about  thirty 
different  congregations  under  the  care  and  supervision  of  Presbytery.  Less 
than  one-third  of  these  were  on  the  east  side  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  while 
four  or  five  of  these  were  regarded  as  organized  churches,  only  one  of  them 
was  in  charge  of  a  pastor,  and  that  one  (Alexander)  had  already  been 
transferred  to  another  Presbytery;  while  on  the  west  side  there  were  six 
settled  ministers,  who,  whether  regularly  installed  or  not,  practically  sus- 
tained the  relation  of  pastor  to  the  churches  they  were  serving. 

And  here  it  would  be  interesting  to  know  in  what  manner  and  to  what 
extent  these  early  churches  were  organized.  That  they  all  were  fully 
equipped  as  our  "Book  of  Church  Order"  requires  is  very  far  from  prob- 
able. It  is  much  more  likely  that  the  greater  part  of  them  did  not  have 
such  an  organization  as  we  would  be  willing  now  to  recognize.  Two  or 
three  congregations  in  Eastern  Virginia  and  perhaps  eight  or  nine  in  the 
Valley,  may  have  been  in  a  condition  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the 
present  day,  but,  in  many  places  the  proper  material  for  church  officers 
was  not  at  their  command,  and  the  people  had  to  content  themselves  with 
such  an  organization  as  would  enable  them  to  secure  public  worship,  with 
such  Gospel  ordinances  as  could  be  obtained.  Our  fathers  meant  to  be 
Presbyterians  pure  and  simple.  Their  preference  for  their  own  church  was 
decided,  but  in  the  unsettled  condition  in  which  they  found  themselves, 
they  laid  more  stress  on  its  doctrines  and  worship  than  on  its  polity.  For 
doctrine  they  were  especially  zealous.  If  sometimes  seemingly  indifferent 
in  reference  to  forms  they  were  always  very  solicitous  in  reference  to  faith. 
They  were  valiant  for  the  truth.  The  preaching  of  their  ministers  was 
carefully  watched,  and  a  stranger  was  sometimes  subjected  to  a  rigid  ex- 
amination as  to  his  orthodoxy,  before  he  was  admitted  to  their  pulpit. 
Every  man  that  preached  to  them  must  be  a  Calvinist  of  a  pronounced 
type.  His  indulgence  in  wine — or  in  something  stronger — might  be  over- 
looked; but  for  the  slightest  departure  from  the  doctrines  of  the  West- 
minster Confession  there  was  no  tolerance.  As  might  be  expected  of  such 
men,  they  were  careful  to  have  their  children  trained  up  in  the  strict  faith 
of  their  fathers.  And  repeatedly,  as  we  have  seen,  when  a  supply  was 
asked  for  a  vacant  church,  it  was  stipulated  that  one  should  be  sent  who 


r 


126  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

would  take  time  to  give  instruction,  to  both  parents  and  children,  in  the 
catechisms  of  the  church.  In  this  zeal  for  an  acquaintance  with  the  Pres- 
byterian standards,  the  old  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  at  least,  was  in  full 
sympathy.  When  supplies  were  sent,  they  were  specially  charged,  in 
many  instances,  to  be  diligent  in  catechising  the  people  to  whom  they 
preached.  But  this  method  of  doctrinal  instruction  was  not  left  to  preach- 
ers alone.  Parents  themselves  were  deeply  solicitous  that  their  children 
should  be  "  brought  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord." 
Family  religion  was  carefully  cultivated;  and  as  an  important  aid  to  this, 
the  Sabbath  recitation  of  the  Catechism,  both  Larger  and  Shorter,  was  not 
neglected. 

In  our  hurried  review  of  the  planting  of  our  church  in  this  region,  we 
are  made  more  and  more  sensible  of  our  indebtedness  to  those  sturdy  immi- 
grants, who  penetrated  these  solitudes,  and  laid  here  the  foundations  of 
that  civilization,  and  wealth,  and  freedom  which  we  now  claim  as  our 
priceless  heritage.  We  recognize,  with  gratitude,  the  foresight,  and  cour- 
age, and  patience,  and  industry,  they  displayed,  in  the  risks  they  ran,  in 
the  labors  they  expended,  and  in  the  sacrifices  they  endured,  that  they 
might  reclaim  the  wilderness  from  the  savage,  and  fit  it  for  the  abode  of 
civilized  man.  But  we  would  do  them  serious  injustice,  if  we  did  not  hold 
prominently  in  view  that  stalwart  faith  which  kept  them  always  mindful  of 
their  dependence  upon  God,  and  of  their  responsibility  to  Him.  It  was 
their  simple,  unfeigned  piety,  as  humble  followers  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that 
led  them  to  erect  a  church  wherever  they  settled;  and  to  build  for  God, 
wherever  they  built  for  themselves.  His  cause  was  as  dear  to  them  as 
their  lives,  and  the  ordinances  of  His  House  as  necessary  to  them  as  their 
daily  bread. 

But  while  we  admire  the  Divine  grace  in  these  men  that  kept  them 
faithful  to  the  teachings  of  their  fathers,  and  made  them  zealous  for  the 
Kingdom  of  God,  we  must  not  forget  that  devoted  band  of  earnest,  self- 
denying  preachers  of  the  Word,  by  whose  godly  ministry  the  piety  and  zeal 
of  these  hardy  pioneers  was  kept  alive.  In  the  whole  history  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  abounding  as  it  does,  from  first  to  last,  with  deeds  of  heroic 
devotion  and  self-sacrifice,  there  is  scarcely  anything  better  fitted  to  call 
forth  our  admiration  than  the  faith,  and  endurance,  and  patient  toil  of  these 
noble  heralds  of  the  cross,  who  were  chiefly  instrumental  in  carrying  the 
Gospel  into  these  solitudes  and  planting  the  church  in  the  vallies,  and  on 


k 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  127 

the  plains,  and  among  the  mountains,  and  by  the  water-courses  of  the  New 
World.  Though  few  in  number,  they  set  agencies  in  operation  that  have 
accomplished  wonderful  results.  But  they  did  it  at  a  cost  of  time,  and 
toil,  and  self-denial,  that  speaks  volumes  for  their  zeal,  and  consecration, 
and  endurance.  The  places  which  they  visited,  and  where  congregations 
were  gathered  by  them,  which  they  were  often  sent  to  supply,  were,  many 
of  them,  hundreds  of  miles  from  their  homes.  To  reach  them  the  solitary 
journe*y  must  be  performed  on  horseback,  and  often  through  pathless  for- 
ests. Mountains  had  to  be  crossed  by  Indian  trails.  Swollen  rivers  had 
to  be  forded.  Storms  must  be  breasted,  and  the  extremes  of  heat  and 
cold  encountered.  Shelter  for  the  night  was  not  always  assured.  In  our 
day,  when  we  can  travel  to  our  appointments  over  the  smoothest  roads, 
with  a  speed  that  almost  annihilates  space,  and,  if  we  please,  in  a  parlor 
coach;  and  at  the  end  of  an  easy  and  rapid  journey,  are  welcomed  to  a 
richly-furnished  home,  with  its  warm  chamber  and  luxurious  bed;  we  can 
hardly  imagine  the  exposure,  and  weariness,  and  privation,  and  hardship 
that  a  missionary  appointment  meant  to  the  men  of  that  early  day.  The 
cheerfulness  with  which,  under  these  forbiding  circumstances,  they  accept- 
ed the  mission  and  filled  their  appointments,  challenges  our  highest  admi- 
ration. 

There  was  another  hardship  of  a  very  different  character  from  those 
just  named,  with  which  the  pioneers  of  Presbyterianism  had  to  contend  in 
planting  their  church  in  Northern  Virginia.  I  refer  to  the  opposition  they 
encountered  from  the  civil  government,  inspired  by  the  Established  Church. 
For  reasons  already  intimated  this  opposition  was  greatly  relaxed  in  the 
Valley  counties,  but  east  of  the  Ridge  it  made  itself  seriously  felt  wherever 
an  attempt  was  made  to  introduce  any  worship  other  than  that  of  the  Eng^ 
lish  Church.  It  is  not  pleasant  to  speak  of  this,  and  the  subject  has  been 
avoided  as  much  as  possible  in  the  previous  pages.  But  the  heroic  spirit 
of  the  early  fathers,  and  the  true  history  of  that  period  would  be  imper- 
fectly understood  if  silence  were  maintained  in  regard  to  the  persecutions — 
sometimes  petty,  but  often  violent — which,  in  colonial  days,  were  visited 
upon  the  men  of  our  faith  and  order,  when  they  undertook  to  worship  God 
here  after  the  manner  to  which  they  had  been  used  at  home. 

It  was  under  the  auspices  of  the  Church  of  England  that  the  first 
colonists  came  to  Virginia,  and  for  nearly  a  hundred  years  no  serious  effort 
was  made  to  introduce  the  faith  and  worship  of  any  other  Church.  But 
when  the  effort  was  made  it  was  met  with    the  most  determined  oppo- 


128  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

sition.  Existing  laws,  if  not  so  intended,  were  so  interpreted,  as  not  only 
to  discourage,  but  to  forbid  what  was  contemptuously  called  '  'dissent. ' ' 
These  laws  prevailed  elsewhere,  but  they  were  more  grievous  and  more 
rigidly  enforced  in  Virginia  than  in  any  other  Colony.  Even  under  the  Act 
of  Toleration,  the  worship  of  dissenters  was  permitted,  when  permitted  at 
all,  only  under  restrictions  of  the  severest  and  most  humiliating  character. 
The  minister  must  obtain  a  license  from  the  civil  authorities  and  register 
the  place  of  worship,  and  bind  himself  by  various  oaths,  not  only  ft>  ab- 
stain from  teaching  heresy,  but  to  behave  himself  peaceably  toward  the 
government.  Special  permission  must  be  secured  to  use  even  a  private 
house  as  a  place  of  worship.  Every  possible  difficulty  was  placed  in  the 
way  of  obtaining  this  permission,  and  when  obtained  it  gave  no  security 
against  molestation.  The  most  outrageous  means  were  often  employed  to 
disturb  and  break  up  the  meetings.  On  one  occasion  a  hornet's  nest  was 
thrown  into  the  room  ;  on  another,  a  snake,  and,  in  at  least  one  instance, 
firearms  were  used  to  disperse  the  assembly.  In  frequent  instances  the 
preachers  were  imprisoned  and  beaten,  and  "cruelty  taxed  its  ingenuity  to 
devise  new  modes  of  punishment  and  annoyance. ' ' 

The  "Act  of  Toleration,"  passed  in  1689,  was  the  measure  of  the  lib- 
erties and  privileges  of  the  non-Episcopal  churches  of  Virginia.  And 
under  that  Act  all  dissenters  were  debarred  from  a  seat  in  the  Legislature, 
and  were  not  allowed  to  hold  a  church  building  or  a  graveyard  in  their  own 
name.  The  Book  of  Common  Prayer  must  be  read  in  all  their  assemblies, 
and  the  sacraments  must  be  administered  according  to  the  rites  of  the 
Established  Church.  They  were  taxed  for  the  building  and  repairs  of  Epis- 
copal churches,  and  a  competent  maintenance  of  the  clergy,  with  a  house 
and  glebe  in  every  parish,  must  be  provided  at  the  common  charge.  At 
every  Court  House  a  church  must  be  built  for  the  Establishment  at  the  pub- 
lic expense,  while  dissenters  were  obliged  to  locate  their  houses  of  worship 
at  some  point  removed  from  these  positions  of  influence.  In  consequence 
of  this  requirement,  down  to  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary 
War,  there  was  not  a  Presbyterian  church  in  any  town  in  Virginia,  though 
the  ministers  of  that  church  were  the  most  learned  of  any  class  of  preach- 
ers in  the  Colony.  The  right  to  build  outside  the  towns  was  sometimes  de- 
nied ;  and  even  when  granted  it  was  often  done  under  conditions  unneces- 
sarily harsh  and  annoying.  It  was  against  an  opposition  as  exasperating 
and  offensive  as  this  that  the  fathers  had  to  contend  in  planting  Presby- 
terianism  in  the  Northern  Neck.  Had  their  religious  convictions  been  less  . 
deep,  or  their  Christian  fortitude  less  determined,  they  would  have  yielded 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  129 

to  the  hostile  forces  arrayed  against  them  and  abandoned  the  effort  in 
despair.  But  the  cause  was  one  for  which  their  fathers  had  contended 
even  unto  blood,  and  which  their  father's  God  had  blessed  ;  and  with  a 
devotion  which  no  persecution  could  weaken,  and  with  a  resolution  which 
no  violence  could  overcome,  they  moved  calmly  forward  through  scorn 
and  obliquy  and  opposition  and  finally  succeeded  in  establishing  upon  these 
western  shores  "a  Church  without  a  Bishop,  and  a  State  without  a  King." 

And  this  indicates  both  their  Presbyterianism  and  their  patriotism,  for 
there  is  no  dispute  as  to  the  stand  they  took  in  the  great  struggle  for  the 
liberties  of  America.  They  espoused,  with  the  greatest  ardour  and  con- 
stancy, the  cause  of  the  Colonies  against  the  aggressions  of  the  mother 
country.  This  should  not  surprise  us,  after  what  we  have  seen  of  the  op- 
pression to  which  they  had  been  subjected  from  the  civil  government  and 
the  Established  Church.  The  fact  that  their  existence  was  merely  tolerated 
and  that  they  were  subject  to  so  many  unjust  demands,  naturally  weakened 
their  loyalty  and  determined  their  attitude  toward  the  Crown.  When  the 
controversy  began,  it  is  true,  they  avowed  their  allegiance  to  the  King,  but 
when  there  was  no  longer  any  hope  of  redress,  they  became  the  foremost 
advocates  for  the  absolute  independence  of  the  Colonies.  It  was  to  them 
a  question  of  religious  as  well  as  civil  liberty,  and  they  entered  into  the 
conflict  with  a  determination  not  to  lay  down  their  arms  until  these  liberties 
were  fully  secured.  Their  course  was  in  striking  contrast  with  that  of  the 
great  majority  of  the  clergy  of  the  Church  of  England.  They  had  no 
grievance  of  which  to  complain.  There  was  no  fear  of  the  infringement  of 
their  ecclesiastical  liberties.  On  the  contrary,  all  their  rights  and  privileges 
were  secured  to  them  by  the  fact  that  theirs  was  the  National  Church.  It 
was  at  the  greatest  sacrifice,  therefore,  that  any  of  them  should  side  with 
the  Colonies  in  their  struggle  ;  and  hence  it  should  occasion  no  surprise 
that  much  the  larger  number  of  them  remained  faithful  at  once  to  their 
Church  and  to  their  King.  It  was  decidedly  to  their  interest  to  do  so. 
One  of  them,  Dr.  Chandler,  in  defending  the  action  of  the  British  Govern- 
ment, toward  the  people  of  America,  and  the  attitude  of  his  own  church  in 
reference  to  that  action,  says:  "Episcopacy  and  monarchy  are,  in  their 
form  and  constitution,  best  suited  to  each  other.  Episcopacy  can  never 
thrive  in  a  Republican  Government,  nor  Republican  principles  in  an  Epis- 
copal church."  But  with  the  Presbyterians  and  other  so-called  dissenters, 
the  case  was  entirely  different.  A  change  in  the  civil  administration  would 
be  greatly  to  their  interest ;  and  such  was  their  zeal  for  deliverance  from  the 


130  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

foreign  yoke  that  they  were  found  in  the  forefront  of  the  movement  for 
total  separation  from  the  country  that  oppressed  them.  The  Synod  of 
New  York  and  Philadelphia  was  prompt  in  putting  itself  on  record  for  the 
independence  or  the  Colonies.  The  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  in  a  memorial 
to  the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  expressed  with  earnestness  its  hearty  en- 
dowment of  the  cause  for  which  the  country  was  preparing  to  contend.  The 
Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Independence,  advocated  and  signed  chiefly 
by  Presbyterians,  was  more  than  a  year  in  advance  of  the  Declaration 
issued  by  the  Continental  Congress.  The  zeal  of  our  people  may  have  car- 
ried them  too  far  in  the  action  of  their  church  courts;  but  surely  no  charge 
of  lukewarmness  or  backwardness  can  be  laid  against  them. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  statistics  are  not  now  at  hand  to  show  the  extent 
to  which  the  Presbyterians  of  the  Northern  Neck  embarked  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution.  In  the  absence  of  these,  we  must  be  content  with  the  sim- 
ple statement  that  all  the  facts  that  can  be  obtained  bearing  on  the  matter 
make  it  clear  that  they  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  their  brethren 
throughout  the  land,  and  faithfully  upheld  with  their  fortunes  and  their 
lives  the  cause  they  so  zealously  espoused.  No  shadow  of  suspicion  has 
ever  rested  upon  their  patriotism,  their  fidelity,  or  their  courage. 


W 


Before  closing  our  history  of  the  planting  of  Presbyterianism  here,  it 
is  important  that  some  definite  account  should  be  given  of  the  various 
Presbyterial  relations  these  churches  have  at  different  times  sustained. 
These  relations  have  been  so  numerous,  and  have  changed  so  often,  in  the 
course  of  our  history,  that  no  little  confusion  must  arise  where  the  facts 
are  not  distinctly  known.  The  following  brief  statement  will  help  to  re- 
lieve the  reader  of  much  of  his  perplexity. 

The  first  Presbytery  in  America  was  constituted  in  Philadelphia  in 
1705  or  1706.  For  a  period  of  ten  or  eleven  years  this  was  the  only  Pres- 
bytery in  this  country.  In  1716  it  was  sub-divided  and  the  three  addition- 
al Presbyteries  of  New  Castle,  Snow  Hill  (in  Maryland)  and  Long  Island 
were  constituted  and  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  was  formed.  The  evan- 
gelistic work  of  the  church  was  carried  on  for  several  years  by  the  Pres- 
byteries and  Synod  alike.     But  as  the  work  in  Virginia  began  to  grow,  the 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  131 

Synod,  which  had  had  it  in  charge,  committed  it,  in  1724,  to  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  Castle,  whose  undefined  southern  boundary  extended  beyond, 
the  Potomac.  Of  the  first  work  of  this  Presbytery  in  Virginia  we  know 
really  nothing,  as  the  volume  recording  it  is  lost.  In  1732  the  Presbytery 
of  Donegal  was  formed  out  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle;  and  while  its 
boundaries  were  not  carefully  defined,  it  at  once  began  to  exercise  jurisdic- 
tion in  Maryland  and  Virginia  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  In  1755,  while  the 
rupture  of  the  Synods  lasted,  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover  was  formed  by  the 
Synod  of  New  York,  out  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle.  At  that  time 
the  only  churches  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  in  the  territory  that  afterward 
belonged  to  Winchester  Presbytery,  were  those  in  Lancaster  and  Northum- 
berland counties;  and  these  fell  under  the  care  of  Hanover  Presbytery. 
After  the  re-union  of  the  Synods,  the  churches  of  the  Upper  Valley, which 
had  been  founded  and  fostered  by  Donegal,  also  fell  into  the  bounds  of 
Hanover.  The  missionaries  and  supplies  of  this  new  Presbytery  were  also 
sent  occasionally  along  the  South  Branch.  This  was  not  regarded  as  an 
intrusion  upon  the  jurisdiction  of  Donegal.  At  that  time,  and  until  a  later 
period,  the  Presbyterial  bounds  south  of  the  Potomac  were  not  strictly 
defined;  and  it  seems  to  have  been  understood,  that  no  offence  would  be 
given  if  the  members  of  one  Presbytery  should  sometimes  be  found  labor- 
ing in  the  bounds  of  another.  For  a  number  of  years  the  territory  between 
the  Potomac  and  Rappahannock  rivers  seem  to  have  been  common  ground 
for  the  missionaries  of  Donegal,  New  Castle,  Hanover,  and  even  other 
Presbyteries;  but  as  it  was  more  accessible  to  the  ministers  of  Donegal,  it 
gradually  came  under  the  jurisdiction  of  that  Presbytery. 

In  1765  Donegal  Presbytery  was  dissolved,  and  out  of  it  the  Presby- 
teries of  Lancaster  and  Carlisle  were  formed.  The  churches  south  of  the 
Potomac  were  placed  in  connection  with  Carlisle.  But  this  action  was  re- 
scinded the  next  year,  and  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal  was  restored  to  the 
roll  of  the  Synod.  In  1786,  however,  this  Presbytery  was  divided  by  the 
Synod  into  the  Presbyteries  of  Baltimore  and  Carlisle,  and  the  name  of 
Donegal  finally  disappears.  Mr.  Keith,  the  pastor  at  Alexandria,  was 
assigned  to  Baltimore,  but  all  the  other  Virginia  members  of  Donegal  were 
assigned  to  Carlisle.  At  the  same  session  of  the  Synod,  the  Presbytery  of 
Lexington  was  constituted  out  of  that  part  of  the  territory  of  Hanover 
which  was  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  It  was  to  be  bounded  on  the  north  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle  (just  constituted).  The  churches  assigned  to  it 
are  not  named.  But  among  the  ministers  of  which  it  was  to  consist  are  the 
names  of  John  Montgomery,  pastor  of  Opecquon,  Cedar  Creek,  and  Win- 


132  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

Chester,  and  Moses  Hoge,  pastor  of  Concrete,  on  the  South  Branch.  This 
seems  to  be  a  recognition  of  a  change  of  boundary  lines,  of  which  there  is 
no  official  record.  When  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover  was  formed  in  1755, 
it  was  ordered  by  the  Synod  of  New  York,  "  that  any  members  settling  to 
the  southward  and  Westward  of  Mr.  Hoge's  congregations  (/.  e.,  John 
Hoge,  pastor  of  the  Opecquon  charge )  shall  have  liberty  to  join  said  Pres- 
bytery of  Hanover."  Before  1786,  and  apparently  without  any  direct  act 
of  transfer  by  the  Synod,  some  of  the  churches  belonging  to  Donegal  had 
gotten  under  the  care  of  Hanover,  and  were  embraced  in  the  new  Presby- 
tery of  Lexington.  This  was  true  of  the  congregations  of  Opecquon,  Cedar 
Creek,  Winchester  and  Moorefield,  with  all  the  territory  south  of  them. 

When,  in  1788,  the  old  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  resolved 
itself  into  four  Synods,  and  formed  the  General  Assembly,  the  Presbyterial 
relations  of  the  churches  in  Virginia  were  not  disturbed.  In  the  reports 
made  to  the  General  Assembly  at  its  first  meeting  in  1789,  we  find  the 
churches  in  the  territory  in  which  we  are  interested,  reported  as  belonging 
to  the  following  Presbyteries,  viz: 

To  Carlisle — Tuscarora,  Falling  Waters,  Back  Creek,  Charlestown, 
Shepherdstown,  Romney,  Patterson's  Creek  and  Cool  Spring. 

To  Baltimore — The  Alexandria  Church. 

To  Lexington — Winchester,  Opecquon,  Cedar  Creek,  and  Concrete 
( Moorefield). 

To  Hanover — Fauquier  and  Lancaster. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  churches  of  Northumberland,  Kittocktin, 
and  Gum  Spring  eastoi  theRidge,and  of  Capon,  Springfield  and  Elk  Branch 
west  of  the  Ridge,  are  not  mentioned  at  all. 

The  incongruity,  however,  of  leaving  so  many  of  the  Virginia  churches 
in  a  Pennsylvania  Presbytery,  and  a  Pennsylvania  Synod,  was  so  apparent 
that,  in  1792,  the  General  Assembly  ordered  "  that  the  river  Potomac  be 
the  boundary  line  between  the  Synods  of  Philadelphia  and  Virginia,  except 
the  congregation  of  Alexandria,  which  shall  belong  to  the  Synod  of  Phila- 
delphia." The  effect  of  this  order  was  to  change  the  boundary  lines  of 
the  three  Presbyteries  of  Carlisle,  Lexington  and  Hanover.  At  its  next 
meeting  Lexington  added  to  its  roll  of  churches,  "Carmel  (Shepherdstown  ), 
Martinsburg,  Tuscarora,  Back  Creek,  Falling  Waters,  Charlestown  and 
Hopewell."  Cool  Spring  had,  the  year  before,  petitioned  for  a  transfer 
to  Lexington  and  as  its  name  is  not  mentioned  here,  we  infer  that  its  peti- 
tion was  granted.  In  this  transfer  no  mention  is  made  of  Romney,  Spring- 
field, Patterson's  Creek,  Back  Creek  or  Capon;   we  do  not  know  why. 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  133 

Under  this  order  of  the  General  Assembly  Hanover  promptly  extended  its 
northern  boundary  to  the  Potomac. 

The  action  of  the  General  Assembly  in  making  the  Potomac  River  the 
boundary  line  between  these  two  Synods  seems  so  suitable  and  proper, 
that  we  are  not  a  little  surprised  to  find  the  next  year,  '  'a  petition  from  the 
congregations  of  Tuscarora  and  Falling  Waters,  praying  to  be  re-united  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle."  This  petition  was  granted;  and  in  that  old 
connection  these  two  churches  remained  until  May,  1804,  when,  on  their 
own  petition,  they  were  transferred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Winchester,  in 
which  relation  they  have  happily  continued  for  a  hundred  years. 

Before  this  transfer  was  made,  however,  there  was  another  disturbance, 
though  only  temporary,  of  the  Presbyterial  relations  of  these  two  churches. 
The  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  in  the  Fall  of  1792,  recommended  to  Carlisle 
its  division  into  two  or  more  Presbyteries,  and  the  next  August,  1793,  Car- 
lisle concluded  to  divide  into  four  Presbyteries,  viz:  Carlisle,  Huntingdon, 
York  and  Franklin.  In  this  division,  Tuscarora,  Martinsburg  and  Falling 
Waters  were  assigned  to  the  care  of  Franklin  Presbytery.  But  the  Synod 
disapproved  of  this  division  and  restored  our  Virginia  churches  to  their  old 
relation  with  Carlisle  Presbytery. 

We  have  now  completed  our  self-imposed  task.  We  have  sketched, 
so  far  as  the  material  at  our  command  would  enable  us  to  do  it,  the  history 
of  the  planting  of  Presbyterianism  within  the  territory  originally  covered  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Winchester,  down  to  the  time  of  the  organization  of  that 
Presbytery  in  1794.  We  are  fully  sensible  of  the  imperfections  of  this 
work,  and  we  sympathize  with  our  readers  in  the  disappointment  many  of 
them  will  feel  at  the  meagre  and  unsatisfactory  character  of  the  sketches 
here  presented.  Our  excuse  is,  the  surprisingly  scant  material  we  have  found, 
out  of  which  to  construct  a  history.  And  yet  it  is  hoped  that  the  facts  we  have 
been  able  to  rescue  from  an  oblivion — into  which  some  of  them  were  rapidly 
falling — few  as  they  are  and  insignificant  as  many  of  them  are — may  pos- 
sess a  certain  interest  and  even  value  to  some,  who  are  eager  to  learn  all 
that  can  be  known  that  bears  even  remotely  upon  the  history  of  their  be- 
loved church. 

It  remains  for  us,  in  concluding  this  little  volume,  to  record  the  organ- 
ization of  that  Presbytery,  to  which  was  to  be  committed  the  training  of 
those  churches,  the  history  of  whose  planting  has  been  imperfectly  given. 

In  1794  the  conditions  were  favorable  f or  ajseparate  Presbyterial  organi- 
zation in  the  Lower  Valley.    There  were  twenty  congregations  fully  organ- 


134  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

ized  for  worship,  and  about  one-half  of  them  organized  as  Presbyterian 
churches.  Fourteen  of  these  congregations  were  in  the  Valley  of  the 
Shenandoah — all  of  which,  except  Gerrardstown,  were  served  by  the  five 
pastors  then  settled  here.  The  other  six  congregations  were  in  the  Valleys 
of  the  South  Branch  and  Capon.  Those  in  Hampshire  County  were  under 
the  ministry  of  Rev.  John  Lyle.  The  two  in  Hardy  County,  Concrete 
and  Lost  River,  were  vacant.  Rev.  Moses  Hoge  had,  for  seven  years, 
served  the  Carmel  (or  Shepherdstown )  church  with  such  fidelity  and 
acceptance  that  he  had  gathered  there  a  large  and  growing  congregation, 
and  largely  through  his  influence  and  labors  the  neighboring  congregations 
were  greatly  enlarged  and  strengthened.  At  Charlestown  the  Rev.  William 
Hill  had  been  settled  for  two  years  or  more,  and  under  his  energetic  min- 
istry that  field,  which  embraced  also  Hopewell  (or  Smithfield)  and  Bull- 
skin,  was  rapidly  growing  in  numbers  and  importance,  although  Bullskin 
had  already  begun  to  transfer  its  families  to  the  other  two  churches,  thereby 
strengthening  them,  but  resulting,  in  a  few  years,  in  its  own  extinction. 
At  Opecquon  and  Cedar  Creek  and  Winchester,  Rev.  Nash  Legrand  was 
carrying  forward  most  successfully  that  brilliant  ministry  under  which  his 
two  venerable  churches  reached  their  highest  stage  of  prosperity,  while 
Winchester,  which  for  twenty  years  or  more  had  been  an  appendage  of 
that  field,  was  beginning  to  manifest  some  restiveness  at  a  relation  which 
did  not  allow  the  amount  of  service  to  which  so  large  and  important  a  town 
was  entitled,  and  had  very  distinctly  indicated  her  wish  and  purpose  to 
become  an  independent  church.  A  few  miles  to  the  southeast  of  Mr. 
Legrand,  the  Rev.  William  Williamson  was  diligently  preaching  to  the 
congregations  of  South  River  and  Flint  Run,  and,  against  the  rivalry  of 
both  Baptists  and  and  Methodists,  who  were  on  the  field  before  him  and 
whose  influence  was  growing,  was  quietly  building  up  a  vigorous  and 
active  church  of  our  faith  and  order.  Passing  westward  to  the  Lower  South 
Branch  Valley,  we  find  the  Rev.  John  Lyle,  who  had  recently  begun  his 
memorable  ministry  to  the  churches  of  Springfield,  Romney  and  Patter- 
son's Creek  (or  Frankfort,  as  this  church  is  sometimes  called)  and  whose 
labors,  in  fact,  extended  to  the  whole  of  Hampshire  County. 

Returning  now  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  we  find  the  Rev.  John  Boyd 
just  settled  over  the  churches  of  Falling  Waters  and  Tuscarora,  including 
the  important  congregation  which  had  been  gathered  at  Martinsburg.  In 
this  interesting  field,  Mr.  Boyd's  ministry  continued  for  six  years.  His 
churches,  however,  were  not  a  part  of  Lexington  Presbytery,  and  they 
had  so  decidedly  expressed  their  unwillingness  to  be  separated  from   their 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF. VIRGINIA.  135 

old  associates  across  the  Potomac,  when  the  General  Assembly,  in  1792, 
had  reconstructed  the  Synodical  lines  and  thrown  these  churches  into  the 
Virginia  Synod  and  into  a  Virginia  Presbytery  ;  that  now  when  they  would 
have  been  very  important  to  the  Presbytery  about  to  be  formed,  and  when 
that  Presbytery  would  have  been  very  convenient  to  them,  no  movement 
was  made  to  disturb  their  Presbyterial  relations.  It  was  not  until  ten  years 
afterwards  that,  of  their  own  motion,  they  were  united  to  our  Presbytery. 

The  number  of  congregations  and  ministers  now  found  in  the  Lower 
Valley  and  their  proximity  to  each  other,  made  their  formation  into  a  sep- 
arate Presbytery  a  matter  of  great  convenience,  while  their  distance  from 
the  churches  and  ministers  of  the  Upper  Valley  made  such  an  organization 
almost  a  necessity. 

Accordingly,  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  at  its  sessions  in  Harrisonburg, 
September  26,  1794,  took  the  following  action,  viz  : 

"On  motion  it  was  proposed  that  the  Synod  should  divide  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Lexington  and  constitute  another  Presbytery  of  a  portion  of  its 
members.     The  proposition  was  agreed  to,  and  the  division  is  as  follows: 

1  'The  dividing  line  shall  begin  on  that  part  of  the  boundary  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Redstone,  on  the  Alleghany  Mountains,  where  Hardy  County 
is  divided  from  Pendleton,  running  thence  with  the  said  line  until  the 
same  reaches  the  corner  of  Rockingham  County ;  from  thence  a  direct 
course  to  the  place  where  the  great  road  through  Keizletown  to  Winches- 
ter crosses  the  river  of  Shenandoah  ;  from  thence  to  Swift  Run  Gap  on 
the  Blue  Ridge,  which  reaches  the  boundary  of  the  Presbytery  of  Han- 
over. 

'  'The  members  lying  northeast  of  said  division  shall  be  constituted  a 
Presbytery,  and  shall  be  known  by  the  name  of  Winchester  Presbytery, 
consisting  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Moses  Hoge,  Nash  Legrand,  William  Hill 
and  John  Lyle,  and  they  shall  hold  their  first  meeting  at  the  town  of  Win- 
chester on  the  first  Thursday  of  next  December.  Mr.  Hoge,  or  in  his 
absence,  the  next  senior  member  present,  shall  preach  a  sermon  on  the 
occasion  and  preside  until  a  new  moderator  be  chosen. 

"On  motion,    Mr.   William  Williamson  was  added  to  the    number 
mentioned  in  the  above  minute  constituting  the  Presbytery  of  Winchester. 
"A  true  copy,  certified  by 

"SAMUEL  HOUSTON, 

"Synod's  Clerk." 

The  new  Presbytery  met,  as  ordered  by  Synod,  "in  the  Presbyterian 
Meeting  House  in  the  town  of  Winchester,  Thursday,  December  4,  1794." 


136  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 

There  were  present  three  ministers,  viz:  Messrs.  Hoge,  Legrand  and 
Williamson,  and  three  Ruling  Elders,  viz  :  William  Buckles,  of  Shepherds- 
town;  James  Perry,  of  South  River;  and  Alexander  Freely,  of . 

Dr.  Hoge,  by  appointment  of  Synod,  presided  and  preached  the  open- 
ing sermon  from  Matt.  13  :  31,  32  (the  Parable  of  the  Mustard  Seed;  and 
was  chosen  the  first  Moderator  and  also  the  Stated  Clerk — which  latter 
office  he  held  until  October  3,  1807,  when  he  was  dismissed  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Hanover. 

It  may  here  be  mentioned,  that  within  three  years  of  its  organization, 
the  boundaries  of  the  Presbytery  of  Winchester  were  extended  east  of  the 
Blue  Ridge,  so  as  to  include  the  whole  territory  of  the  "Northern  Neck," 
except  the  church  at  Alexandria.  At  its  session  in  Winchester,  Septem- 
ber 28,  1797,  the  Synod  of  Virginia  took  the  following  action,  viz :  "through 
the  committee  of  overtures  was  now  brought  forward  a  proposition  to  en- 
large the  bounds  of  Winchester  Presbytery  by  the  addition  of  the  remain- 
der of  the  Northern  Neck  which  belonged  to  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover 
and  the  following  is  established  as  its  Southern  line,  viz :  beginning  at  Swift 
Run  Gap,  thence  a  straight  line  to  the  head  source  of  the  Rapidan  River, 
thence  down  the  said  river  to  its  confluence  with  the  Rappahannock,  thence 
down  the  said  river  to  the  Chesapeake  Bay;  which  proposition  was  taken 
up  by  the  Synod  and  agreed  to." 

It  is  not  a  little  remarkable  that  within  the  limits  of  the  immense  terri- 
tory now  added  to  the  Presbytery,  there  does  not  appear  to  have  been  a 
single  resident  Presbyterian  minister,  nor,  so  far  as  we  can  find,  a  single 
Presbyterian  church  with  the  stated  ministration  of  the  Word.  It  is  not 
easy  to  account  for  this  in  a  region  in  which  before  the  Potomac  River  was, 
in  1792,  made  the  dividing  line  between  the  two  Synods,  the  Presbytery  of 
Carlisle  and  still  earlier,  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  had  been  so  active  and 
apparently  so  successful  in  missionary  labor.  It  is  probable  that  the  field 
was  too  extensive  for  Hanover  Presbytery,  with  its  limited  resources,  to 
supply,  and  naturally  the  portion  to  which  most  of  its  members  were 
strangers  would  be  neglected,  and  therefore,  with  the  concurrences  of  all 
parties,  that  part  of  the  field  was  transferred  to  the  new  Presbytery.  As 
soon  as  the  transfer  was  made  Winchester  began  very  actively  to  supply 
the  destitutions  east  of  the  Ridge,  though  its  success  in  that  region  was 
never  such  as  to  inspire  or  encourage  any  inordinate  measure  of  pride. 

The  five  ministers  constituting  the  Presbytery  of  Winchester  at  its  or- 
ganization were,  all  of  them,  men  whom  the  church  may  well  hold  in  grate- 
ful remembrance  for  their  exalted  character  and  efficient  services.     All  of 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  137 

them,  perhaps,  were  above  the  average  in  ability  and  excellence.  Two  of 
them,  Hoge  and  Hill,  attained  to  great  eminence  in  the  church;  while  as 
an  effective  and  popular  preacher  Legrand  excelled  them  both  ;  and  in 
scholarship  and  argumentative  power  Williamson  was  superior  to  them  all. 
They  were  then  all  in  the  prime  of  life.  Hoge,  the  eldest,  was  forty-three. 
Lyle,  who  entered  the  ministry  at  a  more  mature  age  than  the  rest,  was  not 
much  younger  than  Hoge,  and  each  of  the  other  three  was  under  thirty. 

Four  of  these  men  were  of  Virginia  birth  and  education,  the  fifth, 
Williamson,  was  a  native  of  Scotland  and  a  graduate  of  the  University  of 
Edinburg.  All  of  them  were  men  whose  consecrated  talents  and  fervent 
piety  have  left  their  lasting  impress  on  the  church. 

The  Presbytery  organized  by  these  distinguished  pioneers  was  not 
marked  at  first  by  rapid  growth.  Their  number  was  insufficient  for  the 
adequate  cultivation  of  the  large  territory  assigned  them.  Scarcely  any 
candidates  offered  themselves  for  the  ministry,  and  but  few  laborers  could 
be  induced  to  come  to  a  region  so  remote,  and,  at  that  time  so  difficult  of 
access.  Yet  these  men  were  most  faithful  to  their  trust,  and  unremitting 
in  their  labors.  But  in  a  short  time  even  their  limited  number  was  reduced 
by  removal  and  sickness  and  death.  The  eminent  talent,  and  ripe  scholar- 
ship of  Dr.  Hoge  were  claimed  for  a  more  important  field  of  'usefulness  ; 
and  he  was  called  to  the  Presidency  of  Hampden-Sydney  College  and  to 
the  office  of  training  others  for  the  ministry.  A  few  months  after  his  re- 
moval, Mr.  Lyle  succumbed  to  the  hardships  which  his  labors  imposed, 
and  he  was  laid  in  an  unmarked  and  now  unknown  grave.  Two  years  later 
the  saintly  Legrand  was  compelled  to  retire  from  the  pulpit  in  shattered 
health,  and  before  middle  life  was  reached  that  eloquent  voice,  that  had 
pleaded  so  earnestly  and  persuasively  and  successfully  for  the  Master,  was 
hushed  in  death.  Only  two  of  the  five  were  permitted  to  see  the  ripe  fruit 
of  their  labors.  Long  years  before  they  were  called  to  enter  into  the  joy 
of  their  Lord,  it  was  the  privilege  of  Hill  and  Williamson  to  see  the  work 
they  had  begun  expanding,  and  gratifying  numbers  added  to  their  Pres- 
byterial  roll,  both  of  ministers  and  churches.  And  now,  through  the 
blessing  of  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  upon  their  faithfulness  and  the 
faithfulness  of  those  who  labored  with  and  have  followed  them,  the  Pres- 
bytery which  started  from  such  small  beginning  has  attained  a  strength 
and  exhibits  a  zeal  that  have  given  her  a  place  among  the  foremost  in  activ- 
ity and  influence.  She  has  indeed  "become  two  bands,"  but  the  venera- 
ble mother  and  her  honored  daughter  (Chesapeake) — divided  by  the  Blue 
Ridge,  and  covering  together  the  Northern  Neck — are  diligently  engaged, 
each  with  an  earnest  and  able  ministry  in  extending  the  Redeemer's  King- 
dom and  in  training  the  churches  which  the  fathers  planted. 


138  THE  PLANTING  OF  PRESBYTERIANISM 


TABULATED    RECORD 

— :    OF   :— 

Ministers,  Licentiates  and  Candidates 

— :  OF  :— 

WINCHESTER    PRESBYTERY. 


In  the  following  pages  an  effort  is  made  to  tabulate  (in  part)  the 
records  of  all  who  have  been  connected  with  Winchester  Presbytery 
whether  as  ministers,  licentiates  or  candidates.  These  tables,  it  is  be- 
lieved, will  add  materially  to  the  interest  and  value  of  this  volume.  Their 
preparation  has  been  attended  with  more  difficulty  than  was  anticipated, 
owing  chiefly  to  the  defective  method  in  which  the  earlier  Presbyterial 
Records  were  kept. 

With  the  records  of  Licentiates  no  serious  difficulty  is  found. 

But  as  to  Candidates  the  record  is  sometimes  perplexing,  partly,  be- 
cause of  the  custom  which  formerly  prevailed  of  receiving  some  young 
men  not  properly  as  Candidates,  but  as  what  were  termed  "Alumni  of 
Presbytery" — i.  e.  as  possible  candidates,  the  cost  of  whose  preparatory 
education  the  Presbytery  assumed,  while  testing  their  fitness  for  the  minis- 
try. Some  of  these  are  dropped  after  a  time  while  others,  their  fitness 
having  been  approved,  are  placed  on  the  roll  of  candidates.  But  often  the 
minutes  fail  to  distinguish  between  these  two  classes,  and  quite  as  often 
fail  to  indicate  when  an  "Alumnus"  is  formally  received  as  a  "Candidate." 
An  additional  perplexity  arises  from  the  fact,  that,  in  repeated  instances, 
the  names  of  the  Candidates  disappear  from  the  minutes,  and  no  record  is 
made  accounting  for  their  disappearance. 

As  to  the  Ordained  Ministers,  it  is  often  very  difficult  to  obtain  even 
the  limited  record  we  have  attempted  to  give  of  them.  The  names  of  some, 
after  a  period  of  service,  disappear  and  the  minutes  fail  to  show  whether 
this  is  due  to  their  dismission  to  another  Presbytery  or  to  their  death.  This 


IN  THE  NORTHERN  NECK  OF  VIRGINIA.  139 

failure,  in  some  instances,  we  have  been  able  to  supply  from  other  sources. 
A  more  frequent  difficulty,  however,  has  been  to  ascertain  the  fields  in 
which  many  of  our  ministers  have  labored.  Information  on  this  point, 
especially  in  the  earlier  Records,  is  rarely  given,  except  in  connection  with 
installations,  and  as  these,  at  one  time,  were  comparatively  few,  it  is  only 
from  incidental  statements  or  from  sources  outside  of  the  Records  that  we 
have  been  able  to  determine  to  what  churches  or  missionary  fields  the  ser- 
vices of  many  of  our  ministers  have  been  given.  The  statements  under  this 
head,  therefore,  may  not  always  be  absolutely  accurate,  but  from  the  care 
taken  to  arrive  at  the  facts,  it  is  believed  that  the  inaccuracies  are  not 
numerous. 

The  arrangement  of  these  Tables,  will,  it  is  supposed,  be  readily  un- 
derstood. The  items  tabulated  are  necessarily  limited  to  such  facts  as  the 
Records  of  the  Presbytery  furnish.  An  exception  is  made  in  the  case  of 
the  five  original  members,  the  dates  of  whose  licensure,  ordination  and 
death  are  given  and  also  the  names  of  the  Presbyteries  by  which  they  were 
licensed  and  ordained. 

In  the  column  marked  "Status  When  Received"  "C"  stands  tor  Can- 
didate, "L"  for  Licentiate  and  "0"  for  Ordained  Minister. 


140 


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The  Roll  of  Winchester  Presbytery 

ALPHABETICALLY  ARRANGED. 


The   Figures  Appended  to  the   Names  Refer  to  the  Number  in  the 

Tabulated    Record. 


Alden,  W.  F 104 

Alexander,  H.  C 263 

Alomong,  A.  W 146 

Andrews,  W 33 

Armstrong,  J .  A 217 

Atkins,  L.  Y 52 

Atkinson,  J.  M.  P 116 

Atkinson,  J.  M 110 

Atkinson,  W.  M 99 

Baber,  J 103 

Baker,  D 25 

Balch,  T.  B 88 

Bates,  J.  H 123 

Barclay,  E.  E 272 

Beall,  W 209 

Bedinger,  E.  W 185 

Bell,  R.  S 96 

Berry,  R.  T 89,  134 

Billings,  S 92,  176 

Bittinger,  B.  F 141 

Bittinger,  M.  H 148 

Bitzer,  G.  L 235 

Black,  J 21,  131 

Boggs,  J 11,  122 

Boyd,  A.  H.  H 74,  179 

Brown,  H.  C 211 

Brown,  J.  M 47 

Brown,  P.  F 200 

Burr,  E.  A 66 

Cameron,  W.  C 106,   127 

Campbell,  A.  W 83 

Campbell,  C.  N 119,  242 

Campbell,  E.  D 262 

Campbell,  H.  C.  V 251 

Campbell,  I.  N 240,  257 

Campbell,  W.  C 221 

Carrington,  A.  B 233 

Carson,  1 98 

Carter,  R.  W 266 

Chapman,  R.   H 38 

Christian,  L.  H 124 

Clark,  S 29 

Clymer,  J.   M 181 

Converse,  T.  E 206 

Ceoper,  J.  H 296 

Cosner,  W.  C 222 

Crawford,  W.  A 178 


Creamer,  J.  K 138 

Cumpston,  E.  H 214 

Davis,  J.  H 153 

Deihl,  F 303 

Demory,   A 247 

Doll,  J 64 

Downey,  W.  H 197 

Duckwall,  J.  M 236,  279 

Dupny,  B.   H 304 

Dutton,  W.  B 115 

Earle,  A.    M 292 

Elgin,  N 8Z 

Engle,  C.    A 295 

Engle,  S.   M 243 

Entler,  G 85 

Epes,  T.  P 252 

Espy,  T 46 

Ewing,  C.  H 144 

Finley,  G.  W 194 

Fix,  J.  J 280 

Fleming,  R.  H 219 

Foote,  D.  W 72 

Foote,  W.  H 31 

Foulk,  J.  S 246 

Frary,  J.  L 177 

Friend,  W.  S 286 

Froat,  H 48 

Gardiner,  J 65 

Ghiselin.C 231 

Gibson 20 

Gilkesoa,  C.  D 305 

Gilmore,  J.  H 225 

Glass,  J 7 

Graham,  A.  T 229 

Graham,  H.   T 254 

Graham,  J.  R 139 

Graham,  J.  R.,  jr 248 

Graves,  R.  J 161 

Grillbortzer,  G.  A 278 

Gruver,  J.  H 293 

Hall,  R 40 

Hamner,  J.G 186 

Hardie,  H 167 

Hargrave,  J.  T 75 

Harris,  J.  M 117 

Harrison,  E 150 

Harrison,  P 95 


THE  ROLL  OF  WINCHESTER  PRESBYTERY. 


161 


Heaton,  A.  C 

Henderlite,  G.  E 

Henderlite,  P.  B 

Henry,  J.  M 

Hershey,  A.  M 

Hill,  W 4, 

Hoge,  J.   B 

Hoge,  M 

Hoge,  S.  D 

Hollis,  C.  W  

Hoover,  T.  D 

Hopkins,  A.  C 175, 

Hopkins,  A.   C,  jr..? 

Houston,  W.  W 

Hughes,  J.  E 132, 

Hunt,  T.  P 

Hutchison,  E.  C 

Jennings,  J.  H 

Johnston,  J 

Johnston,  W 

Jones,  J 

Jones,  T.,  jr 

Kemp,  R.  T 

Kennedy,  E 

Kennedy,  G.  W 

Kerr,  J 

Kilpatrick,  A.  W 

Kirk,  J 

Klipstine,  L.  F 

Knox,  J 36, 

Lacy,  B.  T 

Lafferty,  J.  W 

Laird,  A.  F 

Lawrence,  A 

Leach,  J.  H.  C 

Lefevre,  J.  S 213, 

Legrand,  N 

Leps,  J.  C 

Leps,  J.    H 

Lewis,  T 

Leyburn,  E.  R 

Leyburn,  G.  L 

Likens,  T.  J 

Lingamfelter,  E.  S 

Link,  A.  G 

Lodor,  J 

Loughhead,  S.  D 

Love,  W.   H 

Lowrey,  W 

Lupton,  J.  W 

Lyle,  J 

McClure,  J.  A 

McCune,  R.  L 

McFaden,  F.  T 

McKee,  C.  B 

McMuiran,  R.  L 

McPhail,  G.  W 

Marquess,  W.    H 

Martin,  E 133, 


135  I  Matthews,  H 180 

258  j  Matthews,  J 15 

268    Matthews,  J.  D 58,     76 

118    Matthews,  W.  C 55 

155    Miles,  M.  N 63 

87    Miller,  W.   H 244 

18    Mines,  J 9,     13 

1  Mitchell,  J.  C 129 

23    Mitchell,  J.  D 61 

208    Moffett,  A.   S 232 

109    Moore,  J.    H 196,  245 

188    Morrow,  J.  B 34 

259  Naylor,  J Ill 

173    Neff,  E.  E 294 

187    North,  N.  G 54,  190 

26    Noyes,  J 27 

56    Oliver,  S.  S 301 

102    Painter,  J.  C 210 

151    Phillips,  J.  W 53 

184    Phillips,  J 163 

43    Pitman,  F.  W.  T 224,  241 

101    Polk,  D 81 

300    Pollock,  A.  D 77,  170 

136  Price,  J.,  jr 265 

68  Proctor,  J.  0 145 

90    Pugh,  J.  W 149 

93    Quigley,  J.  H 207 

158    Raymond,  M 94 

69  Raymond,  S.  M 164 

59  Riddle,  D.  H 45,193 

126    Robertson,   1 284 

277    Robinson,  J 6 

274    Robinson,  S 62 

32    Royall,  J.  J 73 

28    Russ,  J.  H 51 

230    Scanlon,  D.  H 282 

2  Scott,  A.  A 120 

299    Scott,  J.  A 107,198,271 

114    Scott,  J.  A.,  jr 205,237 

108    Scott,  J.  M 147 

276    Scott,  L.  E 220,  250 

192|  Scott,  W.  C 97 

71    Scott,  W.  N 24 

199!  Scott,  W.  N.,  jr 203 

239  !  Seyferth,  W.  T.  S 290 

41  Shannon,  A.  A 17 

160    Sheetz,  W 84 

125    Sherrard,  J.  L 215 

42  Shields,  W 12 

183  i  Sibley,  J.  S 289 

3  Sickles,  W 39 

298iSiler,  J.  C 291 

172  [  Simpson,  T.  W 91 

234  ;  Slaughter,  J.  W 174 

165  i  Smith,  E.  B ! 169 

182    Smith,  J.  P 166 

112    Smith,   Jesse 35 

60  Smith,  Jos 30 

191    Smith,  V.  G 285 


162 


THE  ROLL  OF  WINCHESTER  PRESBYTERY. 


Smyth,  J.  J 

Snook,  E.  A 297 

Snyder,  H 78 

Somerville,  C.  W 260 

Sprunt,   A 226 

Stephenson,  P.  D 238,275 

Stickley,  W.  W 70 

Stoddard,  W 128 

Straith,  A 16 

Stribling,  C.  R 249 

Strider,  J.  P 218 

Stuckey,  G.  W 143 

Thomas   J.  A 281 

Thomas,  J.  D 287 

Thompson,  A 10 

Thornton,  F 37 

Triplett,   J.  E 201,  269 

Trostle,  J.  A 283,  302 

Tucker,  A.  B.,  M.  D 140 

Tustin,  S 50 

Vance,  J 8 

Vass,  L.  C 162 

Walker,  G.  W 195 

Walkup,  J.  W 212 

Wall,  T.  G 142 

Waller,  M 204 

Walton,   W.  C 19,49 

Warden,  W.J 159 

Washburn,   E.  D 267 

Welton,  A 44 

Welton,   F.  B 100 

Whaley,  F.N 105 


Whealton,  R.  A 113 

Wheeler,  J.  E 168 

White,   C 137 

White,  G.  W 189 

White,  H.  M 216 

White,  H.  W 261 

White,   R 22 

White,  R.  A 253 

White,   R.  B 67 

White,  W.  D 227 

White,  W.    Mc 256 

Wilkinson,   R.  H 57 

Williamson,  J.  H -. 152 

Williamson,    R.   B 130 

Williamson,  W 5 

Wilson,  E.  L 202 

Wilson,  L.,F 79 

Wilson,*S.fB 14 

Wilson,  V.  W 171 

|  Wilson,  W.  V 156 

Witherow,T.  S 154 

Wright,  J.  B 80 

Wolf,  G.  L 270 

Wood,  A.  W 288 

Woodbridge,  J.  E 86 

Woods,  D.  J 273 

Woods,  F.  M 228 

Woods,  W.  H  223 

Woodworth,   M.  G 264 

Woodworth,  M.  W 157 

Woodworth,  R.  B 255 


%> 


163 


The  Roll  of  Winchester  Presbytery,  N.  S. 

ALPHABETICALLY   ARRANGED. 


Bell,  T.  D 20 

Billings,  S 4,  45 

Boyd,  A.  H.  H 6 

Campbell,  A.  W 11 

Creamer,  J    K 17 

Crawford,  W.  A 23 

Clymer,  J.  M 29,51 

Cumpston,  E.  H 50 

Diffenderfer,  J.  M 42 

Duncan,  J.  M 47 

Fletcher,  P 14 

Frary,  J.  L 16 

French,  W.  T 13 

Gatewood,  J 12 

Graham,  J.  Mc 22 

Gray,  R 44 

Hamner,  T.  S 15 

Hargrave,  J.  T 5 

Hill,  W 8 

Howard,  J 40 

Hunter,   M 9 

Janney,  E.  H 36 

Johnston,  W 31 

Kilpatrick,  A.  W 3 

Leftwich,  J.  T 49 


Lodor,   J 1 

Lupton,  J.  W 52 

McMurran,  J 28 

McMurran,  R.  L 33 

Mallory,  D.  G 38 

Matthews,  H 34 

Meigs,  M 19 

Neil,  B.  T 32 

Nourse,  C.  H 39 

Ottinger,  W 26 

Parkins,  A 21 

Phillips,  J.  W 7 

Pollard,  W.  H 37 

Pollock,  A.  D 18,  41 

Roby,  W.  0 30 

Royall,  J.  J 2 

Silcox,  W.  T 24 

Slaymaker,  W 48 

Smith,  H.  R 27 

Stewart,  S.  R 35 

Tavener,  J.  V 46 

Torry,  W 25 

Walton,  R.  H 43 

Wright,  J.  B 10 


164 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Abemathy's  (Springfield) 92 

Act  of  Toleration 128,  129 

Action  of   Synod,    setting   off    Presbytery   of 

Winchester 135 

Action  of  Synod  extending  bounds  of  Presby- 
tery of  Winchester 136 

Alexander,  Rev.  Dr.  Archibald.. ,.20,  39,  41, 
42,  50,  67,  68,  70,  73,  81,  86,  93,  94,100, 
109,  124. 

Alexandria 79-81,  125,  131,  132 

Anderson,  Rev.  James 18,  29,  40,  98,  118 

Awakening,  Great 25 

Back  Creek22,  27,  30,  31,  53,  54-56,  60,  132 

"Back  Parts  of  Virginia" 11,  19,  21 

Bailey,  Elder  William 114 

Balch.Rev.  Hezekiah.52,  64,  70,  71,  82-84,  98 

Baptists,  The 86,  115,  134 

Bard,  Rev.  David 61,  78,  87,  89,  90,  102 

Baron,  De Graffenreid 10,  12 

Bay,  Rev.  Joseph 91 

Bertram,  Rev.  William 19,  29,  40 

Bierlin,  Katarina 13,  14 

Black,  Rev.   Samuel 19 

Black,  Rev.  John 79 

Blair,  Rev.  John 23,98 

Blair,  Rev.  Samuel 23,  98 

Bloomery 58,  96 

Boyd,  Rev.  John 54,  61 

Braddock's  Road 58 

Buckles,  Elder  William 136 

Bullskin 16,   19,  21,  26,  29,  31,  39-42, 

64,  72,  81,  104,  106,  108,  109. 

Bunker  Hill  (Mill  Creek) 6,  12,  27 

Burr,  Peter 106 

Bryan,  Rev.  Eliab 23,  98 

Cacapon 22,  29,  30 

Caldwell,  Rev.  James 119 

Caldwell,  Elder  John 18 

Caldwell,  Rev.  Joseph 61 

Cameron,  Parish  of 78,  102 

Cameron,  Prof.  Henry  C 12 

Campbell,  Elder  Robert 73 

Campbell's  History  of  Virginia 13 

Cape  Capon  Church 56-58,  132 

Cape  Capon,  Forks  of 58 

Capon  River 56,  57 

Carter,  Robert,  Esq 34 

Catechizing  the  Church 71,  126 

Caven,  Rev.  Samuel 19,  20,  21,  29,  40, 

42,  98. 


Page. 

Cedar  Creek  Church 16,23,  26-28,  47-50 

Cedar  Creek,  Elders,  and  Deed  for  Church. 48 

Charlestown  Church 81,  82,  105-110,  132 

Chandler,  Dr.  on  Episcopacy  and  Dissent.  129 

Colvil,  Joseph 48,  49 

Commission  of  Synod 37,  93,  94,  106 

Committee  of  Supplies 45,  58,  78,  88,  93 

Concrete  (South  Branch  or  Moorefield) 43, 

45,  46,  66,  132. 

Conn,  Rev.  Hugh 17 

"Conn's  Capt.  at  Culpeper  C.  H." 82 

Conchlin ,  Jacob 106 

Cool  Spring   (Gerrardstown) 41,  72,  101, 

103-105. 

Cooper,  Rev.  Robert 52,  70,  71 

Craig,  Rev.  John 19,  20,  44,  98 

Craighead,  Rev.  John 17,  19,  40,  71,  77, 

82,  98. 

Culpeper  C.  H 77,  82-84 

Cummings,  Rev.  Charles 84 

Davidson's  History  of  Presbyterian  Church. ..8 

Davies,  Rev.  Samuel 25,  119,  122,  123 

Dean,  Rev.  William 23,  98 

Deed  for  Cedar  Creek  Church  48 

Deed  for  Charlestown  Church 106 

Deeds,  Title,  Why  so  few  of  early  date. 14,  15 

DeGraffenreid,  The  Baron 10,  12 

Dickenson,  Rev.  Jonathan 17 

Dill,  Col.   Matthew 66 

Dissenters  Persecuted 18,   19,    120,    121, 

127-129. 

Division  of  Old  Synod 22-25 

Doak,  Rev.  Samuel 84 

Documentary    Proof   of    Early    Settlement  of 

Valley  of  Virginia 14,  15 

Dod,  Rev.  Thaddeus 62,  63,  93 

Donegal  Presbytery,  passim. 

Donegal  Presbytery,  First  Meeting  in  Virginia, 

71. 

Duffields,  Old  Church  at 69,  70 

Dutch  Reformed  Church 21,  43,  46,  62 

Early  settlement  of  Shenandoah  Valley. ..6,  7, 

11-15,  31. 

Elder,  Rev.  John 28 

Elders  of  Lancaster  Church,  names  of 120 

Elders  of  Cedar  Creek  Church,  names  of... 48 

Elk  Branch  Church 13,  32,  33,69-74 

Episcopacy  and  Monarchy 129 

Established  Church,  relation  of  to  Dissenters, 

18,  19,  120,  121,  127-129. 


INDEX. 


165 


Page. 

Fairfax,  Lord 5,  28,  43,  111 

Faith,  Stalwart,  of  Early  Presbyterians 126 

Falling  Waters  Church 22,  29,  31,  51,  59- 

61,  132,  133. 
Families  of    Lancaster     Church,     Names     of 

Some 119 

Finley,  Rev.  Mr 93 

Finley,  Rev.  Samuel 23,  98,  121 

First  Presbytery  and  First  Svnod  Formed. ..16 

Fithian,  Rev.  Philip  V 34,  35,  49,  50,  53, 

56,  60,  61,  99,  110,  111. 

Flint  Run 113,  115 

Foote,  Rev.  William  H.3,  7,8,33,  93,  96,108 
Frankfort  (see  Patterson's  Creek) . 

Franklin  Presbytery 133 

Frederick  County,  formed 12 

Freely,  Elder  Alexander 136 

Front   Royal 112,  117 

Gelston,  Rev.  Samuel 17,  18,  24,  98 

General  Assembly  in  1791  Takes  Steps  to  Pre- 
pare a  History  of  Its  Churches 1,  2 

Gerrardstown 103-105 

Gillett's  History  of  Presbyterian  Church. ..8,  18 

Glass,   Mr.  Samuel,.., 94 

Glass,  Rev.  Joseph 69,  94,  105 

Gooch,  Governor  of  Virginia 18,  21,  24,  25 

Goodwill  Church 16 

Gordon,  Col.  James 118-124 

Gourdvine 77 

Graham,  Rev.  William 36,  66,  93,  94 

"Great  Awakening,  The" 25 

Green,  Dr.  Ashbel 2 

Gum  Spring 85,  86,  87,  88-90,  102 

Hagerstown,   Falling  Waters    and    Williams- 
port  Call  Mr.  Bard 61 

Hall,  Rev.  James-,  Organizes  Leesburg  Church 
103. 

Hamoshire  County 57,  90-92,  95,  96,  97 

Hanover   Presbvtery 99,  109,  122,  130, 

131,  132,  136. 

Hawkes,  Rev.  Dr 6 

Hawkes,  Major  W.  J 106 

Henderson,  Rev.  Joseph 82 

Henry,  Patrick 123 

Hill,  Rev.  William. 3,  41,  52,  82, 101, 107-110 
Hindman,Rev.  John  (Hynman)  ...21,  40,  98 

Historical  Society,  Presbyterian 2,  3 

History  of  Presbyterian  Church  by  Green, Haz- 

zardand  Miller 1,  2 

History  of  Presbyterian  Church  by  Davidson. 8 

"        by  Foote 3, 

8,  33. 
History  of  Presbyterian  Church  by  Gillett,8,  16 
"  "       by  Webster. ..8 

History  of  Winchester  Presbytery  by  Dr.  Hoge, 
2.     By  Dr.  Hill,  3. 

Hite,  Joist .6,  13,  19 

Hite,  Colonel 49 


Page. 

Hoge,  Elder  James 50 

Hoge,  Rev.  John 26,  28,  45-49,  55,  57, 

81,  98. 

Hoge,  Rev.  John  Blair 69 

Hoge,  Rev.   Moses 2,  45,  46,  65-69 

Hoge,  William 6,  26,  65 

•Hollingsworth,  Lydia,  Marriage,  1735 12 

Hopewell  Church. 81,  82,  109 

Hopewell  Meeting  House  (Quaker) 11,  13 

Hopkins,  Dr.  Samuel 86 

Howard,  John,  pioneer 43 

Howe's  "Historical  Collections"  of  Virginia. 7 

Hunt,  Rev.  James 79 

Hunter,  Rev.  Andrew 34,  60,  61,  71 

Jennings,  Rev.  Jacob 46 

Journal  of  Ccl.  James  Gordon 119,  120 

Katarina  Bierlin 13 

Kearsley,  Elder  John 68 

Keith,  Rev.  Isaac 79,  80,  131 

Kennedy,  David 106 

Kerchival's  History  14,  17 

Kernstown 7 

Kittocktin  Church 84-88,  103 

Lacy,  Rev.  Drury 107,  116 

Lancaster  Church 118-124 

Lancaster  Church,  Elders  of 120 

Lancaster  Church,  Some  Families  of 119 

Lancaster  Fresbytery,  Formed  and  Dissolved, 

131. 

Long,  Rev.  James 55,  60,  71,  79,  87 

Leesburg 102,  103 

Legrand,  Rev.  Nash..37,  38,  42,  100,  101,114 
Lexington  Presbytery... 36,    37,   94,  100,  104, 

108,  132. 
List,  Alphabetical,  of  Members  of  Winchester 

Presbytery 160-163 

List,  Chronological  of  Members  of  Winchester 

Presbytery 138-159 

Lost  River 57,  75,  76 

Lutheran  Church 27,  99 

Lyle,  Rev.  John 93-95,134,  135,  137 

Lynn  (or  Linn)   Rev 14,  20,  29 

McConnell,  Rev.  James 71,  82 

McCreary,  Rev.  John 0,  52 

McDowell,    Rev.  Alexander 30,44 

McGan ,   Rev.  — 32 

McGill,  Rev.  Daniel 7,  10.  17 

McKnight,   Rev.  John. .41,  58,  62,  65,  71-74, 

79,  87,  92,  98,  99,  104. 

McKown,  Elder  Samuel 105 

Martin,  Rev.  James 81 

Martin,  Mr.  Thomas Ill 

Martin,  Col.  T.  B Ill 

Marriage  Declared  Void  by  Presbytery Ill 

Martinsburg 110-112,  132,  133 

Matthews,  Rev.  John 110 

Methodist  Worship 115,  134 

Mecklenburg  Church 63 


166 


INDEX. 


rage. 
Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Independence.  130 

M iddletown  (Gerrardstown ) 105 

Mill  Creek  (Bunker  Hill) 6,  11,  12,  13 

Miller,  Dr.  Samuel 2 

Mines,  Rev.  John 103 

Montgomery,   Rev.  John. .35-37,  99,  100,  114 
Moorefield  (Concrete)  ,43,  45,  46,  75,  76, 132 

Morgan,  Morgan 6,  13 

Mount  Bethel.". 93,  96,  97 

Muir,  Rev.    James 80,  81 

"New  Side"  and  "Old  Side" 23-25,98 

"New  Side,"  Accused   of  Intemperate  Zeal, 
24,  25. 

"Nomini  Hall" 34 

Norcross',  Dr.,  History 53,  60,  73,  74 

Northern  Neck 5,  12,  16,  118,  124 

North  Branch  of  the  Rappahannock 77 

North  River 76 

Northumberland  Church 118-124 

"Old  Side"  and  "New  Side" 23-25,  98 

Opecquon 6,  7,  16,  17,  18,  19,  21,  23, 

26-28,  33-39,  47. 

Organ,  John 118 

Organization  of  the  Early  Presbyterian 

Churches 125 

Organization  of  Winchester  Presbytery.  133-137 

Orme,  Rev.  John 17 

Orthodoxy  of  Early  Presbyterians 126 

Pack  Horse  Ford 10 

Parish  of  Cameron    (Leesburg) 78,102 

Parish  of  Shelburn 78,  102 

Patriotism  of  the  Early  Presbyterians. .129,  130 

Patillo,  Rev.  Henry 119 

Patterson's  Creek 22,  62,  63,  72,  93, 

96,  97,  132. 

Perry,  Elder  James 114,  136 

Persecutions  of  Presbyterians 120,  121. 

127-129. 
Persecutions    Not  Serious  in    Valley    of  Vir- 
ginia, and  why 18,  19 

Poage,   Rev.  John 104,  105 

Potomac  Church 8,  10,  32,  33 

Potomoke  in  Virginia 7-14 

Powell's  Fort 116,  124 

Presbyterianism   and  Episcopacy  (Dr.  Chand- 
ler)  129 

Presbyterianism    East  and   West   of  the  Blue 

Ridge 125 

Presbyterial  Committee  of  Supplies 88,  93 

Presbyterial  Relations  of  the  Early  Churches, 

130-133. 
PRESBYTERIES. 

Baltimore 81,  131,  132 

Carlisle,  passim. 
Donegal,  passim. 

Franklin 133 

Hanover.  .  .  .45,  99,  109,  122,  130,  131, 
132,  136. 


Page. 
PRESBYTERIES— Continued. 

Huntingdon 28 

Lancaster 131 

Lexington 36,  37,  45,  94,  100,  104, 

108,  132, 

Long  Island 16,  130 

New  Brunswick 85,  86,  88 

New  Castle,  passim. 

New  York 62 

Philadelphia 16 

Redstone 46 

Snow  Hill 16,  130 

Winchester 133-137 

York 133 

Presbyterial    Records    Lost,    of    New    Castle, 

Vol.   1 9,  17,  30,  32 

Presbyterial  Records  Lost,   of    Donegal,    Vol. 

II 21,  30,  32.  44,  55,  59 

Records,  Ecclesiastical,  Imperfect  and    Scant, 

5,  6. 
Records,  Lost  of  Donegal, Vol.  II. .21,  30,  32, 
44,  35,  59.   New  Castle,  Vol.  I    .9,17,  32 
Reformed  Dutch,  Classis  of  New  Jersey. 21, 62 

Reily  Family  of  Bullskin    39,  42 

Revival,  The  Great  in  Virginia 25 

Rhea,  Rev.  Joseph 60,  71,  79 

Riddle,  Rev.  David  H 3,  100 

Riddle,  Elder  William 112 

Rippey,  Elder  Matthew 105 

Roan,  Rev.  John 23,  27,  48,  52,  57,  62, 

83,  91,  98. 

Rodgers,  Rev.  John 72 

Robinson,  Rev.  William 20 

Romney 91,  95-97,  132 

Ross,  John,   Marriage 12 

"Runnymeede"  Farm 103,  104 

Schism,  The  of  1741 22,  25 

Scotch-Irish  Not  Wanted  in   Pennsylvania  13 

Scott,  Rev.  Archibald 66 

Scott,  Rev.  John   A 14 

Scott,  Rev.  William  N 66 

Scott,  Major  of  Virginia 92 

Shelburn,  Parrish 78,  102 

Shepherd,  Capt.  Thomas 63,  64 

Shepherdstown 10,  13,  63-69 

Sleepy  Creek 22 

Slemons,  Rev.  John 67,  71,  77,  82,  98 

i  Smith,  Rev.  John  Blair 37 

I  Smith,   Rev.  Sampson 92 

South  Branch 21,  29,  30,  42-46,  72 

South   River 113,  114 

;Spottswood,   Governor. 10,  11,  12,  13 

j  Springfield 90-95,  132 

State  of  Its  Churches  When   Winchester  Pres- 
bytery was  Organized 133,  134 

Statistics  of  the  Church  in  1720 16 

Stephens,   Major 49 

Stephensburg .46 


INDEX. 


167 


Page. 

Stewart,  Rev.   William 17 

Strasburg  (Stoverstown) 116 

Synod  of  Philadelphia 7,  16,  23,  24,  25 

Synod  of  Philadelphia  Divided 22-25 

Synod  of  New  York 22,  23,  24  | 

Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia.  .22-25  i 
Tabulated  Record  of  Members  of  Winchester 

Presbytery 138-159 

Tennents,  Gilbert  and  William 23,  98! 

Thorn,  Rev.  William 77,  79,  82 j 

Thompson,  Rev.  Amos.  .  .71,  77,  79,  82,  85- ! 

87,  98,  103. 

Thomson,  Rev.  John 19,  98 

Todd,  Rev.  John 119,  122  j 

Tombstone,  Old    in    Elk    Branch    Graveyard, ' 

13,  14. 
"Trough,"  The  on  South  Branch.  .43,  72,  91 

Turkey  Run 77,  78 

Tuscarora    .  7,  22,  29,  31,  51-54,  132, 133,134 
Vance,  Rev.   Hugh.  .  .  .52-55,60,  71,  82,  87, 

88,  98,  112. 

Van  Meter,  John 21,  43 


Page. 

Van  Meter,  Isaac 21 

Waddel,  Rev.  James 35,  121-124 

Warm  Springs  in  Virginia 76 

Warrenton •.  .  . 76,  78,  117 

Washington,  George 27,  105 

Washington,  Charles 105,  106 

Waterford 85 

Waugh,  Rev.  Samuel 58,  78,  82,  87,  88, 

102,  103. 

White,  Elder  John 71,  106 

Whitefield,  Rev.  George 123 

Williamson,  Rev.  William 77, 115-117 

Wilson,  Elder  of  Opecquon  Church 49 

Wilson,  Rev.  E.  L 88 

Wilson,  Elder  William 105 

Winchester  Church 97,  101 

Winchester  Meeting  House 100 

Winchester  Presbytery  Organized.  .  .  .133-136 

Woods,  Rev.  F.  M 54 

Woodstock 116 

Zane,  Col.  Isaac 49 

Zeal  of  Early  Ministers 126,  127 


168 


ERRATA. 


Page  3,  3d  line  from  bottom For  "dependencies"  read    ependence 

Page  7,  15th  line  from  bottom For  "Potomoke"  read  Patomoke 

Page  18,  7th  line  from  top For  "girding"  read  girdling 

Page  54,  2d  line  from  top Put  a  comma  for  the  period  after  county 

Page  62,  4th  line  from  bottom For  "McWhorten"  read  McWhorter 

Page  78,  7th  line  from  bottom .For  "Episcopalion"  read  Episcopalian 

Page  82,  7th  line  from  bottom For  "evengelistic"  read  evangelistic 

Page  108,  16th  line  from  bottom For  "Faqquier"  read  Fauquier 

Page  112,  8th  line  from  top For  "principle"  read  principal 

Page  117,  13th  line  from  bottom For  "Stevens"  read  Stephens 

Page  118,  13th  line  from  bottom For  "Newey"  read  Newry 

Page  125,  9th  line  from  top For  "Alexander"  read  Alexandria 

Page  126,  6th  line  from  bottom For  ' 'was"  read  were 

Page  131,  18th  line  from  bottom For  "seem"  read  seems 

In  the  "Tabulated  Record"  the  following  corrections  should  be  made,  viz: 

No.  24,  William  N.  Scott Died  January  24,  1857 

No.  33,  Wells  Andrews   ...  Ordained  January  11,  1818 

No.  42,  William  Lowrey Drowned  in  White  River,  Ind.,  2,  11,  1828 

No.  64,  Jacob  Doll Licensed  July  17,  1841 

No.  67,  Robert  B.  White Ordained  September  18,  1838 

No.  68,  G.  W.  Kennedy Erase  date  of  ordination 

No.  73,  John  J.  Royall Withdrew  to  N.  S.  Presbytery  April  18,  1850 

No.  152,  J.  H.  Williamson Instead  of   (?)  insert  April  18,  1839 

No.  153,  J.  H.  Davis Instead  of    (?)    insert  April  18,  1850 


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